By Barry Whelan, dpa
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich seek the league and cup double in coach Pep Guardiola’s last game in charge when they meet runners-up Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s German Cup final in Berlin.
Berlin (dpa) – Germany’s top two clubs meet in a dream cup final in what will be a last game as Bayern Munich coach for Pep Guardiola and a farewell for Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels before he joins Bayern.
Saturday’s encounter at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium should be a showcase for German football.
Bayern, fresh from a Bundesliga record fourth straight league title, are up against a Dortmund side whose points haul in second place was the biggest in league history.
Guardiola would like to bow out with a second double following 2014 before he joins Manchester City, while Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel is seeking a trophy in his first season in charge after succeeding Juergen Klopp.
For the bookmakers, Bayern are the favourites, although this will mean nothing when the teams take the pitch in Berlin.
«Bayern start nearly every game as favourites,» Bayern’s Thomas Mueller said.
«Both teams boast excellent quality. I don’t think the teams will enjoy a lot of space. It’ll be a bit of a test of endurance, but I hope it’ll still be a good game for the fans. Winning the cup is a big target.»
Bayern beat Dortmund 5-1 at home in the league in October and drew 0-0 away in March. They have the better cup final record – beating Dortmund after extra-time in both 2008 and 2014 – while also winning the all-German 2013 Champions League final. However Dortmund prefer to remember a 5-2 victory over Bayern in the 2012 final.
The teams also met in the 2013 quarter-finals (a win for Bayern) and last year’s semi-finals (a win for Dortmund).
Dortmund are in their fifth major final in as many years but their last two German finals, against Bayern and last season against Wolfsburg, resulted in defeats.
Hummels would dearly love to lift the trophy as his last act at a club he joined from Bayern originally on loan eight years ago.
There are no doubts the Germany central defender’s thoughts will be solely on the black and yellow of Dortmund, as Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski – who experienced the same scenario two years ago – insisted this week.
«He will be giving 100 per cent, but I know that it’s not easy,» the Poland striker said.
Hummels himself said: «I promise that I will giving everything and won’t be going easy on anyone. I don’t want to hear anyone say, ‘he didn’t put himself out’ or ‘his thoughts were somewhere else’.»
The match is also a chance for youngsters Julian Weigl of Dortmund and Joshua Kimmich of Bayern – if they both appear – to show why Germany coach Joachim Loew has called them up for his provisional Euro 2016 squad.
Kimmich’s best hope is likely to be a place on the substitutes’ bench but 20-year-old Weigl has been a regular starter under Tuchel and should be on the team sheet in midfield.
«I’m looking forward to my first final,» he said.
«You can sense in training that everyone is up for it, everyone wants to gather every last ounce of energy to win the game.»
For Bayern, Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso is back in contention after resuming training following a rib injury.
«I don’t know yet whether I’ll be fit for Saturday,» he told Bayern television on Wednesday. «I’m not better yet and I need a little more time. But there are still three days to go and I hope I’ll get better quickly.» Team-mate Javi Martinez is not ready following an ankle injury.
