Bayern and Dortmund takes on each other for one final battle on a neutral venue.
Dortmund has burned records that Bayern previously owned and taken away the ugly salad bowl from their grasp for two seasons in a row. Dortmund has a unique chance to achieve their first ever double in history by beating a side they have beaten in their last four meetings. But beating Bayern in Berlin is perhaps a tad harder than beating Bayern at the Signal Iduna Park.
Die Roten and Berlin have a special connection. Bayern won their last trophies in memory in Berlin. In 2010, they were crowned champions in Hertha Berlin’s backyard, the Olympiastadion. Shortly afterwards, they hammered Bremen in the Cup final to secure the double. Bayern this year has a chance of winning two trophies. Their quest in finals starts in Berlin.
Hertha was about to be relegated on the final day of the season. Köln required only a point to secure the relegation play-off berth in the Bundesliga. However, Bayern, in a game which was meaningless for them, beat Köln in style allowing Hertha to jump to the play-off spot thanks to a win over Hoffenheim.
In their last visit to Berlin, the Bavarians scored six goals. This time however, no goal-fest is expected. In the last four meetings between Bayern and Dortmund, Bayern has managed a meager one goal, which did not come this season. Both the meetings this season were decided by a single goal, first by Mario Götze and then by Robert Lewandowski.
In the Allianz Arena, Bayern dominated the match and kept coming at Dortmund. They couldn’t fashion too many clear cut chances but had many a half-chance which players of their quality should have taken advantage of. In the second meeting, Dortmund started to dictate from the off and was denied by Manuel Neuer and the post (which happens to be a good combination by the way).
Their goal came though against the run of play. Bayern began to take control when Bastian Schweinsteiger was introduced into play. After the Pole Lewandowski scored, which happened because Arjen Robben played him onside, Bayern was awarded a penalty. The aforementioned Dutch man missed it and proceeded to miss from three yards out shortly afterwards. Had Bayern won that match, we might have been looking at a different Bundesliga champion.
As far as starting line-ups are concerned, nobody is quite sure just how Bayern will line up. Jupp Heynckes has to keep an eye ahead to next week’s Champions League final. However, Bayern is a club which values every match regardless of the importance. They won their three meaningless Bundesliga fixtures at the end of the season. Expect Heynckes to field a full strength line-up.
Luiz Gustavo has started all the big games for Bayern; but with next week in mind, Heynckes might go with the duo of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos in defensive midfield. Juergen Klopp has already stated that Götze will in most likelihood start from the bench as far as Dortmund is concerned.
Bayern is looking for a record 16th cup win. Bastian Schweinsteiger has won five cups but feels that this is the toughest final he will be playing in. Jerome Boateng will be playing in his hometown. He was part of a very good Hertha BSC youth team and later the senior team. Lukasz Pizsczek spent six years in Berlin between 2004 and 2010 before moving to Schalke.
Can Bayern turn the tables on Dortmund after failing for two consecutive seasons? Let me hear your thoughts.
Die Roten and Berlin have a special connection. Bayern won their last trophies in memory in Berlin. In 2010, they were crowned champions in Hertha Berlin’s backyard, the Olympiastadion. Shortly afterwards, they hammered Bremen in the Cup final to secure the double. Bayern this year has a chance of winning two trophies. Their quest in finals starts in Berlin.
Hertha was about to be relegated on the final day of the season. Köln required only a point to secure the relegation play-off berth in the Bundesliga. However, Bayern, in a game which was meaningless for them, beat Köln in style allowing Hertha to jump to the play-off spot thanks to a win over Hoffenheim.
In their last visit to Berlin, the Bavarians scored six goals. This time however, no goal-fest is expected. In the last four meetings between Bayern and Dortmund, Bayern has managed a meager one goal, which did not come this season. Both the meetings this season were decided by a single goal, first by Mario Götze and then by Robert Lewandowski.
In the Allianz Arena, Bayern dominated the match and kept coming at Dortmund. They couldn’t fashion too many clear cut chances but had many a half-chance which players of their quality should have taken advantage of. In the second meeting, Dortmund started to dictate from the off and was denied by Manuel Neuer and the post (which happens to be a good combination by the way).
Their goal came though against the run of play. Bayern began to take control when Bastian Schweinsteiger was introduced into play. After the Pole Lewandowski scored, which happened because Arjen Robben played him onside, Bayern was awarded a penalty. The aforementioned Dutch man missed it and proceeded to miss from three yards out shortly afterwards. Had Bayern won that match, we might have been looking at a different Bundesliga champion.
As far as starting line-ups are concerned, nobody is quite sure just how Bayern will line up. Jupp Heynckes has to keep an eye ahead to next week’s Champions League final. However, Bayern is a club which values every match regardless of the importance. They won their three meaningless Bundesliga fixtures at the end of the season. Expect Heynckes to field a full strength line-up.
Luiz Gustavo has started all the big games for Bayern; but with next week in mind, Heynckes might go with the duo of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos in defensive midfield. Juergen Klopp has already stated that Götze will in most likelihood start from the bench as far as Dortmund is concerned.
Bayern is looking for a record 16th cup win. Bastian Schweinsteiger has won five cups but feels that this is the toughest final he will be playing in. Jerome Boateng will be playing in his hometown. He was part of a very good Hertha BSC youth team and later the senior team. Lukasz Pizsczek spent six years in Berlin between 2004 and 2010 before moving to Schalke.
Can Bayern turn the tables on Dortmund after failing for two consecutive seasons? Let me hear your thoughts.
