It’s a real cracker of a DFB Cup tie. When FC Bayern take on VfL Wolfsburg in the last 16 on Tuesday evening (20:45 CET, live on our ticker and FCBayern.tv web radio), it will be a meeting of the winners of the competition for the last four years. FCB lifted the trophy in 2013, 2014 and 2016, with the Wolves breaking the pattern in 2015.
And coach Carlo Ancelotti is wary of Tuesday’s opponents despite the fact they’re currently languishing in 14th place in the Bundesliga. “They’re at the wrong end of the table but they have a good team. It’ll be a difficult game and we need to be very focused.” The fans can therefore look forward to an enthralling match – and they can experience it live at the Allianz Arena, since there’ll be tickets available on the night.
Thiago to start
Those supporters will get to see Thiago, who Ancelotti announced is “ready to play 90 minutes and will start.” Joshua Kimmich will also be back in the squad after missing Saturday’s game through illness, so only Jérôme Boateng and Franck Ribéry are missing.
Ancelotti believes the state of his squad is an advantage ahead of a busy schedule. “We’re more used to playing every three days. That will play in our favour.” The 57 year-old is not alone in his enthusiasm. “We want to get back to winning ways after the last game against Schalke,” said Javi Martínez. And David Alaba also feels “ready. We know what to expect. It’s a final tomorrow, we’re aware of that.”
Reward for hard work
Wolfsburg will be without defensive trio Philipp Wollscheid, Sebastian Jung and Christian Träsch due to injury, and new signing Ashkan Dejagah is rated doubtful. Nevertheless Alaba and Martínez have great respect for their opponents, whose team includes Mario Gomez and Luis Gustavo – two players they know well from their successful times together in Munich. “Wolfsburg are a good team. They have good individual players who we’ll need to stop,” stressed the Austrian. “I always look forward to playing against Mario or Luiz, we’re good friends,” added the Spaniard.
But friendships will go out the window as “we have to give everything. In the cup it comes to down to one game.” And Ancelotti has been preparing his side specifically for this game in recent weeks, as he explained: “We’ve been working very hard because the aim was to be in top shape for this period. We have lots of games now and the hard work will pay off.”
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