Six key battles for DFB Pokal final: Borussia Dortmund v Wolfsburg

Jurgen Klopp is set for his final game in charge of Borussia Dortmund (11/10 to win in 90 minutes) in the German cup or DFB Pokal final against Wolfsburg (2/1 chances).

In recognition of this memorable manager, plus the fact that a number of World Cup winners and other top players shall be turning out in this showpiece event, Coral football experts have looked at the key battles punters can expect to see on Saturday, May 30th.

Both of these players scored home and away during the Bundesliga season, so it makes for a rather interesting head-to-head. Gabon attacker Aubameyang, 25, is Dortmund’s leading marksman after what has been a difficult season with 23 goals in 44 competitive outings across all competitions.

It’s 5/1 Aubameyang gets the better of Brazilian centre back Naldo and scores first, following four strikes in three DFB Pokal matches. Die Wolfe’s defensive lynchpin is something of a set-piece threat in his own right, though, so nifty Naldo, who has four career goals against Dortmund, is a superb 7/1 anytime shout.

Since switching to Wolfsburg, former Chelsea midfielder De Bruyne’s career has sky-rocketed. The Belgium sensation has become an assists machine (28 in all competitions) and chipped in with 15 key goals to boot.

Dortmund anchorman Kehl plays his last game befoe retiring here, and has struggled to contain this opponent before. De Bruyne, who has a goal and assist from this season’s meetings already, thus features in an awesomely enhanced 6/1 wincast (max stake £20).

What we have here in the engine room clash is two players that have been trying to rebuild their careers this season. Japan ace Kagawa returned to Dortmund after a troubled spell at Manchester United, while Brazil destroyer Gustavo came back from the World Cup on home soil with his reputation in ruins.

Neither became bad players overnight, and a platform like this will come as a much-needed tonic for both. While Kagawa’s seasonal tallies of six goals and nine assists are rather dwarfed by De Bruyne’s, punters cannot count him out at 11/4 in the anytime market.

It’s been an injury-hit campaign for one of Dortmund’s prized assets Reus, but he’s still managed to get into double figures (11) for goals. This head-to-head with Wolfsburg’s forward-thinking left back Rodriguez, who represents Switzerland at international level, may not be a direct one, but both offer something different in wide areas.

Reus is like his name suggests, a silky Rolls Royce type of footballer, and thus features in an alternative wincast at 7/2 (again max stake of £20). Rodriguez, meanwhile, who is expected to shrug off a back problem to play has amazingly scored just one goal less than the guileful German forward, and is Die Wolfe’s designated penalty-taker, so consider him as an 11/2 anytime chance.

These two will be getting one another in Euro 2016 qualifying with Poland and Germany both in Group D. Piszczek, like Reus above, has endured a frustrating season because of injuries, but will relish being up against impact sub Schurrle.

Another Chelsea old boy, Schurrle just adds another dimension with his running when coming on and is 11/4 anytime market. Whether he can displace other Wolfsburg widemen Araon Hunt and Ivan Perisic from Dieter Hecking’s starting XI remains to be seen.

What a contrast we have here; Dortmund defender Hummels being another of those World Cup winners up against Dutch and Die Wolfe frontman Dost, whose own international career is in its infancy.

Looking at previous meetings, Hummels has largely kept the Netherlands new boy up front in his pocket. Dost’s one goal in three career starts against Dortmund suggests he might struggle in this big match, but he is rated Wolfsburg’s most likely scorer at 15/8 anytime.