RB Leipzig won the 2021/22 DFB Cup after recovering from a goal and man down to beat Freiburg on penalties in an absorbing all-Bundesliga final in the German capital.

Freiburg 1-1 RB Leipzig (Leipzig win 4-2 on pens.)
Goals: 1-0 Eggestein 19' (assist: Sallai), 1-1 Nkunku 76' (assist: Orban)
Red card: Halstenberg 57'

Fresh from producing incredible respective campaigns, both of these sides were aiming to sign off 2021/22 with a first piece of major silverware. The Bundesliga's fourth-place finishers, Leipzig, were featuring in their third Pokal showpiece in the past four years and it was Tedesco's team who kick-started the contest as a spectacle after a cautious start. Emil Forsberg's angled shot drew a parried save from Mark Flekken and while Nkunku's follow-up was blocked, the game was now alive. Freiburg revelled in the more open proceedings and took full advantage when Maximilian Eggestein found the corner of the net from distance with supreme precision after the ball was bundled into the midfielder's path by Roland Sallai. The swathes of Freiburg fans in red celebrated wildly, but they were wincing in unison when Nicolas Höfler's defensive header back to his goalkeeper landed right at the feet of Christopher Nkunku in front of goal. Flekken got a crucial touch on the Frenchman's shot, but it still needed clearing off the line by the alert Nico Schlotterbeck, who celebrated his moment by punching the air.

The team from Germany's former East kept up the pressure after the restart, Nkunku spinning and shooting into the arms of Flekken. Indeed, it was just when Leipzig appeared to have wrestled full control that they suffered a significant setback. Following a breakaway move, Lucas Höler was dragged back while bearing down on goal by a panic-stricken Marcel Halstenberg. The referee showed no hesitation in showing a straight red to the Leipzig man. It almost got even better for the Black Forest side, Grifo's free kick skimming the side netting, before Sallai went just as close soon afterwards. With the destiny of the 2022 final now looking set, Leipzig levelled via Nkunku's fourth goal in the competition, which arrived after Willi Orban's looping header caused confusion in the Freiburg area. Dani Olmo failed to win it with a prodded shot thereafter and the third game between these teams this season ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. In the extended period, Janik Haberer's shot was touched onto the post by Peter Gulacsi, with Ermedin Demirovic skying the rebound with an empty goal at his mercy. Haberer found the woodwork again with a spectacular volley and after Freiburg survived a late Leipzig penalty shout, it was left to a spot-kick lottery to decide the outcome. Christian Günter and Demirovic failed to score with their penalties for Freiburg, while Die Roten Bullen converted four to take the trophy at the third time of asking.

Match stats

• Leipzig win he DFB Cup, after runners-up finishes in 2018/19 and 2020/21.
• Eggestein brought his goalscoring tally to three in all competitions for Freiburg with his opener in the final.
• Nkunku finishes the season with 35 goals and 18 assists in 52 games in all competitions. He struck four in the DFB Cup.
• The final was Streich’s 396th match as Freiburg coach. It was Leipzig’s 396th match at professional level.
• Höler ends the tournament as the top assist provider, laying on five goals.
• Die Roten Bullen and the Black Forest club were promoted to the Bundesliga together in 2016. Freiburg topped the Bundesliga 2 table that season, but Leipzig still boast the better overall head-to-head record (W6, D5, L4).

Teams

Freiburg: Flekken - Gulde (K. Schlotterbeck 106'), Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck - Kübler, Eggestein (Haberer 86'), Höfler, Günter (c) - Sallai (Demirovic 79'), Höler (Petersen 79'), Grifo
Unused subs: Uphoff, Schmid, Sildillia, Jeong, Weißhaupt
Out: Keitel (broken toe), Schade (abdominals)
Coach: Christian Streich

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Simakan (Gvardiol 113'), Orban, Klostermann - Henrichs, Laimer (Adams 98'), Kampl (Olmo 69'), Halstenberg - Forsberg (Szoboszlai 61') - Nkunku, Silva (Mukiele 61')
Unused subs: Martinez, Angelino, Haidara, Poulsen
Out: -
Coach: Domenico Tedesco

As it happened

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