Borussia Dortmund have had to play second fiddle to Bayern Munich all season, as the Bavarians ran away with the Bundesliga title in record-breaking fashion. Dortmund will have an opportunity to get one back on their rivals when the two sides meet in the final of the German Cup in Berlin on Saturday.
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for an 8 pm local time (11.30 pm IST, 7 pm BST, 2 pm ET) start with live coverage on Ten Action and Ten HD. Watch the match via live streaming online in India HERE. The game can be watched live online in the US HERE, while Canada viewers can do the same HERE. UK viewers can live stream the action HERE, while the match can be live streamed by viewers in Brazil HERE.
Bayern were crowned Bundesliga champions before the league even kicked into its business end, and that has perhaps hampered Pep Guardiola's men a little, with the Munich side relaxing a little in the past couple of months.
Adverse results in the league was followed by a thumping handed at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals, with Bayern unable to cope with the pace and power of the Spanish side's forwards.
There is plenty of pace and power amongst the Dortmund ranks as well, which was shown in full flight last month when Jurgen Klopp's men thumped Bayern 3-0 at the Allianz Arena.
Dortmund will, no doubt, take the confidence from that victory into the final of the German Cup on Saturday. "In the last four years, we have won five of eight matches against them, losing only one," Dortmund CEO Hanz-Joachim Watzke told the club's official website. "We know how to beat Bayern. But they are an outstanding side, so it is going to be anything but easy."
Bayern need a win in the Cup final not only to complete a second straight double, but also to banish the sense of disappointment at the end of the season. That huge loss to Real Madrid in the semifinals would have left a sour taste in the mouths of everyone associated with the club, with questions inevitably being raised about Guardiola's capabilities to handle Germany's biggest team.
A victory over their big rivals will paper over the cracks a little and help end the season with a sense of accomplishment rather than failure. "We're ready," Guardiola said. "We'll produce the best possible display."
"The two best teams in Germany are facing each other," added Philipp Lahm. "Everybody can look forward to this game. It's about another title."
Team news: Borussia Dortmund: Robert Lewandowski has been declared fit to play the side he joins in the summer, after picking up a knock, with Klopp have a full squad to choose from barring long-term absentees Ilkay Gundogan and Neven Subotic.
Bayern Munich: Bastian Schweinsteiger has been ruled out, while Guardiola has made a controversial decision to leave out Mario Mandzukic, despite the strike being fit enough to play some part in the final. "He was injured, but on the other hand he actually was able to play," Guardiola said. "But I decided to take 18 players with me. And Mandzukic is not in the squad."
Franck Ribery has been included in the squad, but the French winger is expected to start from the bench.
Expected lineups: Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Hummels, Sokratis, Schmelzer; Bender, Sahin; Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Martinez; Robben, Gotze, Kroos, Ribery; Muller.
