DFB Cup final: You can't get much more explosive than that

The final premiere between the 18-time record cup winner from Munich and the still untitled Saxon challenger could shift the tectonics of German football. Status quo or turning point? Nothing less is at stake on Saturday (20.00 p.m./ARD/Sky) between FC Bayern and RB Leipzig.

“This will be a difficult game,” CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge warned the Munich stars a week ago in the middle of the championship celebrations: “A team awaits us that has emerged as the third force in the Bundesliga this season. We’re going to have to have a good day.”

Ralf Rangnick was happy to accept the template. The 60-year-old knows about the symbolism and the signal effect of the final premiere between the almost untouchable national industry leader and the football project built up in eastern Germany with Austrian Red Bull millions.

“Bavaria will try to restore the balance of power, especially against us as an upstart,” said Rangnick. In the last game as RB coach, he dreams of the “coronation” – for himself and the club, which he made great, especially as sports director. Ten years after RasenBallsport was founded, the first trophy beckons.

Cup expert Niko Kovac, who is experiencing the third final in a row in his hometown, wants to prevent this. Last year, the 47-year-old duped Bayern with Eintracht Frankfurt (3-1). Even without a public confession from his bosses, the Croatian's 49th competitive game as Bayern coach is no longer primarily about his job. As a double winner, he would also dispel any remaining doubts about his future with the German record champions. But Kovac expects hard work in the final: “It will be a game of hooks and crooks.”

18:0 for Bayern 29 championships, 18 cup successes, seven European Cup victories – that is the collection of titles that Bayern can show off. The “Red Bulls” have zero everywhere. The experienced Munich professionals know the experience in big games and the special dynamics of a cup final in Berlin very well. The Leipzig players around national striker Timo Werner, who may be moving to FC Bayern, are entering completely new territory. Rangnick is also hoping for an emotional final kick. In the 0-0 draw for league points against Bayern two weeks ago, his players were still “missing the last five percent of adrenaline,” as he noted.

0-0 in the last league game between Leipzig and Bayern © AP / Michael Probst

There should be no lack of passion and willpower – on both sides. “Of course we want to win this thing,” explained Bayern’s Thomas Müller. “Have fun” is the Leipzig team’s motto before the biggest game in the club’s ten-year history.

Both teams can compete with almost their best players. Only Leon Goretzka is out for Bayern. Captain Manuel Neuer is about to return to goal. Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben also have to be content with the joker role in their last competitive game in the Bayern jersey. Rangnick also has a free choice, but doesn't have to take any considerations. After the Berlin final evening, he hands over to Julian Nagelsmann.

Tactically, no surprises are to be expected. Bayern will have more possession of the ball and want to exploit their individual class. Leipzig's style of play is based on defensive stability, pressing, high willingness to run, winning the ball and attack-like counterattacks. Splitter for the 76th cup final HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITY I: Coach Niko Kovac has been criticized in Munich all season long, and even winning the championship didn't change much. The Croatian can now even make history in the cup final: If he beats Leipzig, Kovac will be the first in German football to win the double as both a player and a coach. On the pitch he won the championship title and the DFB Cup with Bayern in 2003. In addition, no coach has ever managed to win the cup in two consecutive years with different teams.

HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITY II: RB Leipzig is the first club from the new federal states to win the DFB Cup a good 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Dresdner SC's last victory came on November 2, 1941 in the Olympic Stadium with a 2-1 win against Schalke 04.

CARD KIOSK: Leipzig brings 25 fans to Berlin. “We could have sold 000, 50 or even 60 tickets for the final. “Just how many inquiries I received, I could have opened a kiosk to sell tickets,” said coach Ralf Rangnick. He himself wants to celebrate his first title as RB coach – and this is his last chance as coach of the Saxons. Julian Nagelsmann will take over in the summer. By the way, Rangnick knows how to win in Berlin - he won the cup with FC Schalke 70 in 000.

BALCONY: Regardless of the outcome of the game, the people of Munich have already planned their party. On Sunday the traditional fan party will take place on Marienplatz, and at 14.00 p.m. the team will present itself to the supporters on the town hall balcony. Bayern are foregoing a motorcade - given the possibility of ending the season with only one bowl for the championship title, that would be rather exaggerated.

	SP	TV	P
1. Bayer Leverkusen	32	82:23	84
2. Bayern Munich	32	90:41	69
3. VfB Stuttgart	32	73:39	67
4. RB Leipzig	32	74:36	63
5. Bor. Dortmund	32	64:40	60
6. Eintracht Frankfurt	32	48:47	45
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	SP	TV	P
1. Holstein Kiel	32	62:37	64
2. FC St Pauli	32	57:34	63
3. Fortuna Dusseldorf	32	68:37	59
4. Hamburger SV	32	60:42	55
5. Karlsruhe SC	32	64:46	52
6. Hannover 96	32	56:41	49
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DFB Cup final: You can't get much more explosive than that

The big season finale of German football in Berlin is not just about the eight-liter “pot” of bubbly. For the big Bavarians and their new rivals RB Leipzig it will be a moving final evening in the sold-out Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

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