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At 22:03, as a cool evening breeze replaced Berlin’s first true summer heat, Harry Kane and his FC Bayern München teammates jumped with elation before their most devoted fans in the east stand of the Olympiastadion. It felt as though those intense 90 minutes against VfB Stuttgart — who had shone particularly in the first half — had vanished into thin air. When the final whistle blew, Bayern seemed reinvigorated, celebrating their 3-0 victory that brought the DFB Cup back to Munich after six years. This triumph marked their 21st German Cup title in the competition’s 83rd final.

“This was definitely one of the best nights of my career. I had been looking forward to this final for so long. I’d heard so many stories from players who’d played this match before with Bayern,” said an overjoyed Kane. “I wanted to make the team proud; I wanted to make the fans proud. Scoring a hat-trick in a final is a special moment and a special feeling. I’m really proud of that. It’s been a long, tough season, and ending it like this is just perfect.”

Despite the scoreline, the match was far from one-sided — particularly in the first half. The defending champions Stuttgart not only kept the contest alive but also created a slight early advantage. However, Kane found just enough space to connect with Michael Olise’s cross, diving forward to head home with his weaker right foot to give Bayern a 1-0 lead — a decisive blow to Stuttgart’s hopes.

Bayern initially struggled in the opening 15 minutes against a fierce, high-intensity Stuttgart side fighting for every inch. The Swabians didn’t just defend; they forced Bayern back repeatedly, especially down the right flank. The Bavarians, playing their first DFB Cup final in six years, looked tense early on, while Stuttgart approached the occasion with the boldness of underdogs. Bayern only began to settle into rhythm deep in their own half, but whenever they advanced past midfield, Stuttgart’s defensive wall closed in quickly. The visitors’ pressing left Luis Díaz and Olise with little room to display their attacking flair.

Whenever Bayern managed to break free, Stuttgart’s next wave of defenders quickly halted their progress. “Throughout this season we’ve faced difficult moments — being behind, going a man down — and this match showed exactly that journey,” reflected sporting director Max Eberl.

The result was a tactical yet thrilling battle, with stands divided into red and white creating a thunderous atmosphere. The noise surged down towards the pitch, colliding at midfield and echoing back like a wave. “You could feel how incredible this final was — the atmosphere, everything about it was just crazy. It’s been such fun. This should happen more often,” said midfielder Konrad Laimer.

Stuttgart, guided expertly by coach Sebastian Hoeneß, created the first big chances, but Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig stood firm. Urbig played a crucial role for much of the half, acting as a key outlet in Bayern’s buildup against Stuttgart’s relentless press. Nearly 45 percent of the action unfolded in Bayern’s defensive third, with Stuttgart leading 5-0 in shots on goal. Every successful pass and tackle drew huge cheers from their fans, boosting their confidence. To put this in context, Bayer Leverkusen had managed only four shots against Bayern in the semi-final. Bayern didn’t register their first attempt on goal until the 30th minute, when Stuttgart’s keeper parried Josip Stanišić’s powerful strike in the sweltering Olympiastadion atmosphere.

It was becoming evident that one mistake could decide the match. The longer Stuttgart failed to convert their dominance into goals, the more the game tilted in Bayern’s favour — as had happened in their previous meetings this season, all ending in Munich victories. The pattern repeated when Kane clinically finished Olise’s cross. “We wanted to make it a tough game, but you can’t leave Kane unmarked. He’s lethal in front of goal. We held strong for a long time,” admitted Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav.

In the last 10 DFB Cup finals, only once had a team overturned a 1-0 deficit. “It really hurts. We gave everything we had. There’s nothing to blame ourselves for,” said striker Ermedin Demirović. Moments later, Bayern struck twice more. First, Kane rattled the crossbar with a thunderous shot, and seconds later, following a pass from Díaz, he turned and slotted home for 2-0 with ten minutes remaining. By then, Stuttgart hadn’t registered a shot on goal since the 28th minute.

In stoppage time, a Stuttgart handball in the box handed Bayern a penalty. Kane stepped up with confidence, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to complete his hat-trick and seal a 3-0 win. Only four players in DFB Cup final history have achieved such a feat — including Roland Wohlfahrt in 1986, also against Stuttgart.

As referee Sven Jablonski blew the final whistle, confirming Bayern’s triumph, the players sprinted towards their fans in pure joy, led by Leon Goretzka. “I’ve already thanked Harry. He really delivered tonight, just like he promised me he would,” said the midfielder, who now leaves Bayern after eight years with a domestic double. The players danced and celebrated together, overwhelmed with happiness.

“This entire season has been exceptional. We truly earned the double. The cup’s return to Munich is the perfect finale to a remarkable campaign,” added a jubilant Eberl. Captain Manuel Neuer then lifted the DFB Cup high as golden confetti rained down into the Berlin night — a fitting conclusion to Bayern’s six-year wait for the trophy.