RasenBallsport Leipzig – Eintracht Frankfurt: Leipzig Retain DFB-Pokal Trophy (2-0)

In a cup final where both teams could lay claim to having control, it required an enforced second half substitute to change the game. Yussuf Poulsen’s introduction helped Leipzig find more connections in the final third and in the end, goals from Nkunku and Szoboszlai helped defend their title.
Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Smoothy.

The Olympiastadion in Berlin played host, as RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt faced off to compete for the DFB-Pokal. 

Leipzig are the current holders of the trophy, and this would be their fourth final appearance in five seasons. Victory for Frankfurt would put them as the competition's joint-second most successful team in history.

For Leipzig, manager Marco Rose was looking for his first major trophy in German football. Since taking over his hometown club, Rose has achieved a 67.5% win rate from his 40 games in charge. This form, including winning seven of their final eight league games, helped the club finish the Bundesliga campaign in third position.

For Frankfurt, this would be manager Oliver Glasner’s last game after two years in charge. In his first season, Glasner led Frankfurt to Europa League glory, so a second major trophy in two years would be a perfect departing gift.

This cup final would also determine which European competition Frankfurt would compete in next season. With Europa Conference League already guaranteed, a DFB-Pokal win would allow the club to embark upon another Europa League journey. 

Both sides made changes to their previous starting elevens for the final. 

Leipzig brought Janis Blaswich back in goal, and he played behind Benjamin Henrichs, Lukas Klostermann, Willi Orban and Marcel Halstenberg. Konrad Laimer and Amadou Haidara marshaled central midfield . . .

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