The countdown has started! FC Bayern aim to seal the yearned-for double at Berlin Olympic Stadium on Saturday at 20.00 CET. There is growing excitement on the eve of the big final against Borussia Dortmund. fcbayern.de brings you regular news updates as Friday unfolds.
*** 18:25: Video from final training ***
The press conference is over. Borussia Dortmund will work out now. That's it, we bow out with a short video of Bayern's final training session at Berlin Olympic Stadium from the afternoon. Xabi Alonso and Javi Martínez, who are recovering from minor knocks, took part in the squad programme.
*** 18:10: Guardiola: We're here to win ***
The goal is clear: “We're here to win,” said Guardiola. “The two best teams of the year are here.” The Catalan observed that Borussia's tactics are “completely different” from their previous style of play. Guardiola declined to reveal his plans for the starting line-up: “I'm considering many, many, many ideas.” The press conference is now over.
***18:05: Tuchel: We entertain the highest ambitions ***
The Bavarians will encounter confident opponents. “Making it to the final doesn't mean all our dreams in this competition have come true. A few percent are still missing,” said Tuchel: “We’re prepared to entertain the highest ambitions. I want us to perform accordingly tomorrow, to radiate this confidence.”
*** 18:00: Boateng coming home ***
“It's always nice to go to Berlin,” Boateng said, looking forward to his “home match” at the Olympic Stadium. “Of course it's special to me personally. It's my home town.” The world champion is expecting a tough challenge: “We know we have to turn in a very strong display if we're to win.”
*** 17:50: Guardiola and Boateng address press conference ***
The last item on the Bavarians' agenda today: the obligatory pre-match press conference. “It's a final. Of course it's very special. I'd like to thank my players who're here,” said Pep Guardiola at the Olympic Stadium media centre. Next to him on the podium: Jérôme Boateng, BVB head coach Thomas Tuchel and Marcel Schmelzer.
*** 17:00: Luge ace Geisenberger to carry the cup ***
Top model Eva Padberg has carried it. Biathlete Magdalena Neuner has been on duty. Christine Theiss, Maria Höfl-Riesch, Franziska van Almsick and Britta Heidemann have also acted as trophy-bearers. At some point, all of them have brought the 52-centimetre, 5.7 kg cup onto the Olympic Stadium pitch before a cup final kicked off. On Saturday Olympic luge champion Natalie Geisenberger will be on cup duty. “I was allowed to touch the DFB Cup at a recent press conference. It's really heavy indeed,” the 28-year old Munich native commented.
*** 16:40: Training before press conference ***
That's it, the live stream is over. The Bayern stars now prepare for Borussia behind closed doors. Next up is the press conference featuring both head coaches and one player per team at 17.45. Guardiola is without Mario Götze on Saturday evening. The Germany international misses out with a fractured rib.
*** 16:00: Final training: 15 minutes live coverage on Facebook ***
The players are on their way to the Olympic Stadium, where they will report for the final training session at 16.30. You can follow the first 15 minutes live on our Facebook channel.
*** 15:00: Huge FCB graffiti in Berlin ***
The build-up to the contest has reached fever pitch in Berlin. A must-see attraction for all FCB fans: a 400 square metre graffiti wall in an FC Bayern design at Holzmarktstraße 10. Jörni and his four colleagues from Berlin have worked for 60 hours and used up 3000 spray cans for the piece. The graffiti will be completed in the evening, but a visit is worth your while even now. Check out our video!
*** 14:05: Alaba: 'The atmosphere is going to be stunning' ***
The Bavarians have finished lunch. David Alaba subsequently looked ahead to the cup cracker for FCB.tv. “We're all tense, but we're really looking forward to the match,” said the Austrian, who would lift his fourth cup trophy in case of a win. “The final in Berlin is always special, we're happy to be here. The atmosphere is going to be stunning,” according to the 23-year-old.
*** 13:00: The schedule for the day ***
The plan for the Bayern pros until dinner: after lunch (13.00) the players enjoy a break in their rooms. In the afternoon they will transfer to the Olympic Stadium, where they will report for final training at 16.30. Coach Pep Guardiola and Jérôme Boateng will address the pre-match press conference from 17.45. Borussia head coach Thomas Tuchel and defender Marcel Schmelzer will join in. The Ruhr valley outfit will subsequently complete their final training.
*** 12:00: The countdown has started! ***
32 hours before kick-off: on Thursday evening FC Bayern arrived at the team hotel in the city centre, whereas Dortmund are expected in Berlin at around 13.30.
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