Will Robert Lewandowski lead Bayern Munich to a domestic double or will Timo Werner fire RB Leipzig to the club’s first trophy in the DFB Cup final on Saturday (kick-off: 8pm CEST/7pm BST/2pm ET)?
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Leipzig are out to win the first major honour in their 10-year history when they take to the pitch in Berlin. They eliminated three Bundesliga clubs en route to the final (Hoffenheim, Augsburg and Wolfsburg) and have conceded just three goals all campaign. They boast the best defence in the competition, like they did in the Bundesliga where Die Roten Bullen finished third behind Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. Ralf Rangnick rested most of his first-choice team for the Matchday 34 loss at Werder Bremen, giving game time to Dayot Upamecano and Tyler Adams after their injuries, as the coach prepared for his third DFB Cup final appearance. He won his most recent in charge of Schalke in 2011.
The Royal Blues’ captain that day was current Bayern skipper Manuel Neuer. The Germany goalkeeper has missed the last six games with a calf injury and it remains doubtful whether he’ll be ready to return in the capital. Question marks also remain over the fitness of James Rodriguez and Javi Martinez, while Leon Goretzka is expected to return after going off in the first half of the title-winning 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery both came off the bench to score in that game and could now make their last competitive appearances for Bayern in this final, which comes exactly six years since the pair won the 2013 UEFA Champions League final against Dortmund at Wembley.
Match stats
Leipzig are in their first DFB Cup final and are looking to become the 26th team to win the trophy.
Bayern are in the final for the 23rd time and are the record winners with 18 titles.
Lewandowski has five DFB Cup goals this season, one behind Hamburg’s Pierre-Michael Lasogga. He could become the first player in history to finish as top scorer in three consecutive seasons.
Werner is Leipzig’s top scorer in the cup this season with three goals. He has also scored five in three Bundesliga matches at the Olympiastadion against Hertha Berlin.
Thomas Müller has scored 30 goals in his 49 DFB Cup appearances. Leipzig as a club have played just 29 cup games in their 10-year history.
Niko Kovac has won 16 of his 17 cup matches as a coach. He lifted the trophy last season with Frankfurt against Bayern, only losing the 2017 final against Dortmund. He could become the first coach since Felix Magath in 2005 and 2006 to win back-to-back DFB Cups.
Probable line-ups
Leipzig: Gulacsi – Klostermann, Konate, Orban (c), Halstenberg – Sabitzer, Demme, Adams, Forsberg – Poulsen, Werner
Out: –
Doubtful: Kampl (ankle)
Coach: Ralf Rangnick
Bayern: Ulreich – Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba – Thiago, Goretzka – Gnabry, Müller (c), Coman – Lewandowski
Out: Früchtl (elbow)
Doubtful: James (calf), Martinez (shin splints), Neuer (calf)
Coach: Niko Kovac
