Semi-final scrap settled by stroke of genius

Even after 120 energy-sapping minutes, Thomas Müller still had the drive and desire to gather his team-mates in front of the away terrace at the Veltins Arena, and lead the travelling support in the now-traditional “Humba humba!” victory chant. A celebratory dance followed – but even the 20-year-old Müller never quite made it to the end, as he broke off the festivities with a touch of cramp in the calf.

“Cramp” was in many ways the word of the evening. The preceding 90 minutes plus extra-time in the DFB Cup semi-final between home side Schalke and 14-times cup winners Munich was for the most part a bitter slog. Bayern ultimately made the final for the 17th time with a deserved 1-0 victory, but the quality of the football and the trench warfare nature of the match were significantly influenced by the treacherous playing surface. “I’ve never seen a worse pitch in the Bundesliga,” complained Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.