Coach Jupp Heynckes is “hell bent” on his Bayern Munich winning the German Cup and ending a run of four straight defeats to Borussia Dortmund in the much-anticipated final today.
Reigning two-time Bundesliga champions Dortmund are aiming to win the league-cup double for the first time.
Dortmund have not beaten Bayern in five successive games, and they hopesHeynckes’ men will be distracted by their Champions League final against Chelsea in Munich next Saturday.
Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl expects “an exceptional game. Both clubs have played sensational seasons.”
Dortmund finished eight points ahead of second-placed Bayern in the league, bagging a record 81 points and setting a record unbeaten run of 28 games within a season.
“The two best teams in Germany meet each other,” Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said. “It’s the perfect constellation for a final.”
Berlin’s 74,497-capacity Olympic Stadium is sold out and could be filled more than ten times over. Dortmund alone received some 350,000 ticket requests.
“I can’t imagine a better place for such a final. The anticipation is huge,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said.
“First place against second place, German champion against Champions League finalist - this is one of the biggest games there has ever been in Germany and the thoughts are correspondingly intense.”
Both league clashes this season finished 1-0 to Dortmund and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge anticipates “another very close game.”
“They were two lucky wins for Dortmund,” Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.
Neuer won the cup last year in his last game for Schalke before transferring to Bayern and is determined to win it again.
“It will be special for me. I really want to defend the title and to be able to celebrate with Bayern for the first time together,” the Germany goalkeeper said.
Bayern’s record in German cup finals in impressive, with 15 wins from 17 appearances compared to just two from four finals for Dortmund.
Bastian Schweinsteiger’s record alone is better - the Bayern midfielder has won all five finals in which he’s played.
“It’ll be the toughest cup final I’ve played in for Bayern,” he said. “At the moment, Dortmund are in optimal shape. They’re doing a large number of things right, but I’m absolutely convinced we have the quality to beat them.”
Schweinsteiger would tie former Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn’s record as the most successful player in the competition if he makes it six from six.
The sides met in the 2008 final when two goals from Luca Toni helped Bayern to a 2-1 win after extra time.
Dortmund, meanwhile, have waited 23 years to lift the trophy, since a 4-1 win over Werder Bremen in 1989, so hunger is not an issue for either side in a game that will be shown in more than 150 countries.
“Whoever is up for it more, whoever has more greed and lust for this trophy will also have it in their hands in the end,” said Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Guendogan.