For the second time in three seasons, the German Cup or DFB Pokal final will be contested by giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on May 17. Pep Guardiola will look to salvage his first season in charge at Bayern by defending the cup to complete a domestic double, but Dortmund are no strangers to beating Bayern and will be no pushovers in the final.
Think the Pokal definitely stays with defending champs Bayern? Open a betting account today and back the Bavarians against their biggest rivals.
[sc:Soccer ]Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund Betting Preview
When: Saturday, May 17, 2014, 1:00 PM EST
Where: Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
Line: Bayern Munich (-157) vs. Borussia Dortmund (+330); tie: +275 – view all soccer lines here
Betting on Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s bid to defend its Champions League title came to a screeching halt after its humiliating 5-0 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the semifinal. Since clinching the domestic league title, Bayern is just 5-2-4 in its last 11 games.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Pep Guardiola’s side did bounce back from their Champions League exit by smashing relegation strugglers Hamburg 4-1. Former Dortmund youngster Mario Gotze scored twice in that game, which should strengthen his chances of starting against his old club.
Despite Bayern’s lull, they’re still heavy -157 favorites to lift the cup for a record 17th time. Aside from Thiago Alcantara, Bayern will have its full complement of talented midfielders for the final to face off against Dortmund’s injury-ravaged midfield.
Bayern did lose to Dortmund 3-0 at home last month, but Guardiola fielded an entirely experimental formation during that match. With the double on the line, expect Bayern to line-up in a more conventional formation that highlights the team’s stars.
Betting on Borussia Dortmund
Unlike Bayern, Borussia Dortmund will head to the DFB Pokal final in fantastic form. Since losing 3-0 to Real Madrid in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg, Dortmund has gone seven games unbeaten (six wins, one draw), including a convincing 3-0 victory against Bayern in Munich.
That win was Dortmund’s second win in three meetings over Pep Guardiola’s Bayern this season; they beat Bayern 4-2 in the DFB Super Cup back in July. Jurgen Klopp’s side also thumped them 5-2 in the Pokal final back in 2012.
Injuries have ravaged Dortmund’s squad all season, especially their midfield and defense. Klopp has done his best with what he’s had to work with, but those areas can be exploited by a side as good as Bayern.
To their credit, attack has proven to be Dortmund’s best form of defense. Dortmund has scored 18 goals in its last seven games, with in-form forward Marco Reus banging in six goals.
The final will also be leading scorer Robert Lewandowski’s last game for the club before moving to Bayern in the summer. The combination of Lewandowski (26 goals) and Reus should test Bayern’s occasionally suspect defense.
Writer’s Prediction
Form is temporary, but class is permanent. A pumped up Bayern pounds Dortmund’s midfield and defense into submission. Take Bayern -157 to claim the league in what should be a well-played game.
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