VfB Stuttgart Crash Out of DFB-Pokal after Shock Defeat to 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Stuttgart's European Hopes Dented

VfB Stuttgart's hopes of European qualification suffered a major blow on Tuesday night as they were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by third-tier side 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The defeat, Stuttgart's first of the season, means they will now have to focus on finishing in the top six of the Bundesliga to secure a place in next season's Europa League.

Kaiserslautern Stun Bundesliga Opponents

Kaiserslautern, who currently play in the 3. Liga, stunned their Bundesliga opponents with a well-deserved victory. They took the lead in the first half through Marlon Ritter and held on for a famous win despite heavy pressure from Stuttgart in the second half.

Stuttgart's Poor Form Continues

Stuttgart's defeat to Kaiserslautern was their third in their last four matches. They have now failed to win in their last five games in all competitions and have slipped to ninth in the Bundesliga table. The poor run of form has put pressure on manager Pellegrino Matarazzo, who is now facing calls to be sacked.

Kaiserslautern's Historic Victory

Kaiserslautern's victory over Stuttgart was their first win over a top-flight side in the DFB-Pokal since 2015. It was also their first victory over Stuttgart in any competition since 2006.

What Next for Stuttgart?

Stuttgart will now have to regroup and focus on their Bundesliga campaign. They face a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks, including matches against Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig.

What Next for Kaiserslautern?

Kaiserslautern will now face Bundesliga side SV Werder Bremen in the next round of the DFB-Pokal. They will be hoping to continue their giant-killing run and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2018.