Record favours the champions
2008, 2012, 2014 – and 2016! FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund face off for the fourth time in a DFB Cup final at Berlin Olympic Stadium at 20.00 CET on Saturday. No other last-two pairing has featured as often in the tournament's history. It is also the fourth time that the reigning champions cross swords with the Bundesliga runners-up in the final, with the champions prevailing each time so far. What else is important? fcbayern.de has examined the facts and figures in the build-up to the mouth-watering clash.
Strong record in Berlin
FC Bayern contest their 21st cup final. The Bavarians have played 13 finals at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, the first of them in 1986 (pictured). The record is clearly positive: 10 wins – most recently a 2-0 victory after extra-time against Borussia Dortmund – and only three defeats. The away record against clubs from Berlin is also stacked in favour of the Reds: 19 wins, 10 defeats and 14 draws against Hertha, Blau-weiß 90, Spandauer SV, Tennis Borussia and Tasmania.
Record cup winners and finalists
21 cup final appearances mean FC Bayern are the record finalists. No other team can boast this feat, with Schalke coming second in the rankings on 12 finals. FCB can seal their 18th cup triumph on Saturday, another record. Munich have won eight of their last nine cup finals, the only defeat dating back to 2012, a 5-2 reverse against Borussia Dortmund.
51 victories, 32 draws, 28 defeats
FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have crossed swords in 111 competitive fixtures since 1963, and the stats favour the record cup winners: the Bavarians have won 46 percent of the meetings, with Borussia winning 25 percent. The recent record is more balanced: the last 10 competitive fixtures saw five wins for Bayern, two draws and three victories for Borussia.
Goal guarantee for Bayern
The Bayern faithful have reason to celebrate whenever the Reds contest a cup final. The record cup winners have never failed to score at least one goal in the previous 20 finals, netting 49 times along the way.
Cup expert Müller
Thomas Müller took a breather in the first round against fifth-tier Nöttingen, but he has been involved in seven of the nine Bayern goals in the following four cup ties, scoring four and setting up three. The 26-year-old was the match-winner in the semi-finals with a brace in the 2-0 home victory over Werder Bremen. Müller has been involved in 35 goals in his 35 cup appearances, scoring 23 and assisting 12 goals.
Reds can equal their own record
FC Bayern have gone unbeaten in the DFB Cup in the last four years, including extra-time. The last "real" defeat dates back to 12 May 2012, the 5-2 reverse against Dortmund in the cup final. FCB are without defeat in 22 cup ties and can equal their own cup record of 23 consecutive matches without defeat between 1997 and 2002 (the penalty shootout defeat in the 2015 semi-finals is officially recorded as a draw).
Fritz in charge of cup cracker
Marco Fritz from Korb will take charge of his first DFB Cup final. The 38-year-old has overseen 15 Bundesliga fixtures this season, including Bayern's 5-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in October 2015. "Being in charge of the cup final in Berlin is a special honour for every match official. It's the climax of my career so far," said Fritz, who has been a FIFA referee since 2012. His assistants will be Dominik Schaal and Marcel Pelgrim, with Bastian Dankert acting as fourth official.