VfB Stuttgart advanced to the next round of the DFB-Pokal following a dramatic encounter with Eintracht Braunschweig, ultimately prevailing 9-8 in a penalty shootout after a 4-4 draw following extra time. The match proved to be a compelling back-and-forth affair, testing the resilience of both Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga sides.
Braunschweig drew first blood with a long-range strike from Sven Köhler in the 8th minute, but Stuttgart quickly responded with a header from Ermedin Demirovic just four minutes later. Demirovic then put Stuttgart ahead in the 60th minute with his second goal of the match. However, Braunschweig refused to yield, leveling the score through Fabio Di Michele Sanchez in the 77th minute and then taking the lead once more with a goal from Sanchez in the 85th minute. Stuttgart once again found an equalizer, this time through Nick Woltemade in the 89th minute, forcing the game into extra time.
The additional period saw a frenetic pace continue, initially with what appeared to be a decisive own goal from Sanoussy Ba in the 92nd minute, only for Christian Conteh to respond for Braunschweig in the 105th minute, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel emerged as the key figure in the shootout, successfully saving attempts from Johan Gómez, Max Marie and Lukas Frenkert. Maximilian Mittelstädt, Nick Woltemade, Jamie Leweling, Ermedin Demirovic, Ramon Hendriks, Josha Vagnoman, Atakan Karazor and Lorenz Assignon all converted their penalties for Stuttgart, despite misses by Dan-Axel Zagadou and Chema Andrés. For Braunschweig, Levente Szabó, Mehmet Aydın, Sebastian Polter, Léon Bell Bell, Christian Conteh, Kevin Ehlers and Sanoussy Ba all scored, but the final unsuccessful attempt sealed their fate.
The victory allows Stuttgart to progress, though the team experienced a considerable challenge, while Braunschweig, despite demonstrating strong character, exits the competition.