German Cup up for grabs in Berlin. Photo courtesy DFB

Mark Lovell

Thu 10 May

Bayern Munich can perhaps be forgiven for having one eye on the Champions League final as they head to Berlin for the German Cup final on Saturday against double-seeking Borussia Dortmund.

However, Club President Uli Hoeness has urged his players not to take the game lightly and not to get distracted by perhaps more pressing matters next weekend.

The Bavarians will become the first side to play a Champions League final at their own stadium when they take on English side Chelsea at the Allianz Arena on May 19.

Hoeness warned: "I would just like to point out that we have another important game on Saturday. And that is against Dortmund. This should not become a sideshow.

"This game is just as important as the Champions League final. We want to end what has been a good season so far with a title - and the German Cup is a big title."

"We have lost four times in a row against them so we have a score to settle," he added.

Bayern's Arjen Robben countered by suggesting he would prefer to win the prestigious European trophy.

"If you gave me the choice between the Champions League and the German Cup final, I would take the Champions League every time," commented the 28-year-old Dutch winger. "Dortmund is a great team and they deserve to be champions. But the cup final is a new game. We will be ready," assured Robben, who missed a penalty in the crunch league title decider.

After successfully defending their Bundesliga title, Dortmund are seeking a historic first ever league and cup double (FCB have managed this feat on eight occasions). A brace of goals apiece from Poles Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski earned the Black & Yellows a comfortable victory over Freiburg on the final day of the season, extending their unbeaten run to a record 28 matches and taking them to a new league record haul of 81 points.

Dortmund trainer Jürgen Klopp insists he will still be cracking open the champagne whatever the outcome in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
"There's a 50% chance that the game won't end positively for us, but I will still be celebrating," he said. "We are going to be taking the Bundesliga trophy with us so we will have something in our hands anyway. But of course it would be nicer to do a lap of honour with both trophies."

Bayern are seeking their 15th domestic cup success in a repeat of the 2008 final when the Reds prevailed after extra time with two goals from Italian striker Luca Toni. BVB's Blaszczykowski received his marching orders that evening after two bookable offences.

This is Bayern's 17th final appearance in total and the Reds have only succumbed twice at the final stage, against Bayer Uerdingen (1985) and Werder Bremen in 1999.

BVB's talented youngster Mario Götze might have to make do with a spot on the substitutes' bench as he continues his convalescence after two months out with a groin injury. The 19-year-old scored the winner when the two sides met earlier in the season at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern may start with Holger Badstuber, Luiz Gustavo and David Alaba - all suspended for the Champions League final as Coach Jupp Heynckes looks to keep his charges fresh for the key game against Chelsea.