Bayern to defeat Dortmund in DFB Pokal and give Guardiola parting gift
Published:
Holly Thackeray | May 20, 2016
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund
- DFB Pokal final
- Saturday, May 21st
- Kick-off: 19:00 BST
- Olympiastadion, Berlin
- Live on BT Sport Europe
Guardiola to get glorious Bayern goodbye
It’s a weekend chock full of thrilling domestic cup finals across the continent, and Germany’s DFB Pokal presents one of the tastiest ties of all, as Bayern Munich (11/10 favourites in 90 mins) face foes Borussia Dortmund at the Olympiastadion in Berlin with a dominant 47-28 winning record against their rivals.
There are subplots aplenty in this fixture, after Bayern beat Dortmund to the Bundesliga title, with BVB skipper Mats Hummels already confirmed to be Bavaria-bound in summer, having agreed a contentious switch to his former club after nine years of service at the Westfalenstadion.
While, departing Munich manager Pep Guardiola will be gunning for glory and a domestic double to bookend his stint with Bayern, in a repeat of his first season feat with the Allianz Arena outfit in 2014, when he masterminded Dortmund’s defeat.
The Catalan coach is odds-on 1/2 favourite with Coral to achieve this and lift the trophy as the cherry on the cake of his last campaign with the German giants.
Dortmund determined to end on a high note
As for Thomas Tuchel’s team, they will be aiming to end an entertaining term in which they struck two more league goals than Bayern, with a tremendous tally of 82 in 34 games, though still ultimately trailed 10 points behind the eventual champions.
Despite Dortmund being defeated by the Bavarians 5-1 already this season, and held to a stalemate in the other encounter, Guardiola has not had it all his own way against the BVB, with Bayern only victorious in five of the Spaniard’s 10 games against them.
So, with two draws from the past three fixture meetings, another is 23/10 to occur in 90 mins, with the Black and Yellows ultimately 6/4 to snatch the DFB Pokal silverware, or 12/5 outsiders for a triumph in normal time.
Old friends to strike fatal blows in Berlin
All eyes will be on centre half and skipper Hummels if he starts, which is a tricky conundrum for Tuchel to face, though there are a few more familiar faces and controversial figures in this bitter fixture that could steal the show.
The obvious contender to dent Dortmund’s hopes is former BVB striking hero Robert Lewandowski, who has proven no less lethal at the Allianz Arena since his 2014 switch.
With 30 strikes in 32 games for Bayern in the Bundesliga this term, and five in six against his former club, the potent Poland international is 10/3 to notch the opener, or 7/2 to equal or better his brace against this opposition earlier in the season.
While, ruthless Lewandowski may be battling to fire past old clubmate Hummels for this DFB Pokal crown, he said of the German defender’s imminent move: “He is one of the best central defenders in the world. He passes the ball up-field very well…I am looking forward to playing with Mats. I’ve already played with Mats for four years. I think he just wants to win titles now.”
Another Black and Yellows old boy Mario Gotze dispatched a double on his last outing, and though the Germany World Cup winning hero looks unlikely to stay in Bavaria this summer, the playmaker is 7/1 to have the final say and prove a point to both sets of supporters. While, ever reliable Bayern marksman Thomas Muller has been rested recently and is an excellent even-money to strike anytime.
As for Dortmund’s dangermen, sought after striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exciting exploits, including 25 Bundesliga goals, mean the Gabon star looks menacing at 6/5 to rustle the net anytime, with Japan string-puller Shinji Kagawa and wing threat Marco Reus 7/2 and 2/1 in the same market respectively. While, for an added twist, customers can back Hummels at 12/1 to get on the scoresheet himself.
Related
Or stop by our Euro 2016 page to keep up to date with the exploits for Lewandowski and co in France!
Coral’s top tip: Lewandowski is an excellent shout at 10/3 to sink the first versus his former club.
