DFB Pokal Final Preview: Werder Bremen – Bayern Munich

Posted Saturday, May 15, 2010 by Goal.com

Bremen have a chance to take their only trophy of the season as Bayern try to keep on course for a treble.

Kick-Off: Saturday, May 15, 2010, 20:00 CET
Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany

Holders Looking For Only Trophy Of The Year

It has been a year of ups and downs for Bremen. After losing their first domestic match, the northern Germans went undefeated for 23 matches in all competitions, propelling them to the top of the Bundesliga table. All hopes of winning the title were lost, however, after five consecutive defeats sent them well behind Leverkusen, Bayern and Schalke.

Following those five losses, Werder went on another impressive run and managed to surpass Leverkusen en route to a third place domestic finish, and with it a Champions League berth. On the whole, it was a good season for Thomas Schaaf and his team, although much is riding on the upcoming Pokal final, which could see Bremen take their only piece of silverware this year.

For many, including Torsten Frings, Claudio Pizarro and Mesut Oezil, the feeling of a final is familiar. All three, among others, are returning to the Pokal final for the second consecutive year. In 2009, Oezil made the difference for Bremen against Leverkusen, netting the only goal of the game.

For others, including Marko Marin, Philip Bargfrede and Per Mertesacker, the experience of a Pokal final is new. Said Bargfrede of the occasion: “Last year I sat in the stands with my girlfriend as a fan. Now I may be on the pitch in my first season as a professional. This is something very big.”

Big it is, for Bremen could further extend their advantage over Schalke as Germany’s second most successful club in the domestic cup. With six titles in their history, die Gruen-Weissen are behind only Bayern in the record books. And with any luck, on Saturday, they will make that number seven.

One Down, Two To Go For Bayern

Having locked up their 21st Bundesliga title last week, Bayern Munich are now in the running for their second trophy of the year, a week before their Champions League final clash with Inter.

In an interview with the official Bayern Munich website, in-form striker Ivica Olic was wary of his opponents.

“Werder Bremen are on very, very good form. It won’t be easy,” he said. In last year’s Pokal semi-final, Olic netted for Hamburg, but his strike was not enough to beat Bremen, who won on penalties.

With typical enthusiasm, the Croatian striker urged his team on. “We don’t want to stop at one trophy, we want the lot. You don’t get a chance like this very often,” he insisted before making a personal pledge: “I’ll give everything I have to help us win.”

Top scorer Arjen Robben echoed his team-mate’s sentiments: “[Bremen] were second top scorers in the league after us. I’m not sure we’re overwhelming favorites on Saturday, anything could happen, and it’ll be about form on the day,” said the Dutch winger. "We’ll have to give it 100 per cent,” he concluded.

If Bayern are to win, it will take more than just Olic’s trademark work rate or Robben’s individual class. Bremen are an illustrious attacking force and have more than enough quality to put multiple goals past the Bayern defense. In the fall, Bayern went 1-0 down after a Mesut Oezil strike, before Mario Gomez equalized late on. Late in January, the situation was much the same, but Robben made the difference in a rollercoaster ride that ended in a 3-2 victory to Bayern.

A repeat of January’s result is more likely than not, but as Robben said, only a 100% effort - or perhaps more - will be enough for either team to lift the cup.

FORM GUIDE

Werder Bremen

8 May v Hamburg (H) DREW 1-1 (Bundesliga)

1 May v Schalke (A) WON 2-0 (Bundesliga)

24 Apr v Koeln (H) WON 1-0 (Bundesliga)

17 Apr v Wolfsburg (A) WON 4-2 (Bundesliga)

10 Apr v Freiburg (H) WON 4-0 (Bundesliga)

Bayern Munich

8 May v Hertha Berlin (A) WON 3-1 (Bundesliga)

1 May v Bochum (H) WON 3-1 (Bundesliga)

27 Apr v Lyon (A) WON 3-0 (Champions League)

24 Apr v Borussia M’gladbach (A) DREW 1-1 (Bundesliga)

21 Apr v Lyon (H) WON 1-0 (Champions League)

TEAM NEWS

Werder Bremen

Thomas Schaaf will welcome Peter Niemeyer back into his squad for the Pokal final. The 26-year old defensive player has been plagued by injury as of late, but has regained fitness, and will likely be available as a substitute. Niemeyer joins an 18-man deep squad, which contains all of Schaaf’s preferred starting XI.

Possible Starting XI: Wiese – Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen – Frings, Bargfrede – Marin, Ozil, Hunt – Pizarro

Bayern Munich

Like Bremen, Bayern are also at full strength. Martin Demichelis, who was suspended in round 34, is available once more, and will likely replace Daniel van Buyten in the starting line-up. Van Gaal is no fan of changing a successful line-up, and the team he sends out on Saturday will surely resemble the first-choice team he has used in recent weeks.

Possible Starting XI: Butt – Lahm, Demichelis, Badstuber, Contento – Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger – Robben, Mueller, Ribery – Olic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mesut Oezil (Werder Bremen)

At just 21 years of age, the Gelsenkirchen native has rapidly risen to become one of the Bundesliga’s best playmakers. After having a brilliant first half of the season, Oezil cooled off a bit, but has rebounded in the last month, scoring two goals and assisting six more in his last eight matches. In round 33’s pivotal clash with Schalke, the German international single-handedly put Bremen into the Champions League, and in doing so, sealed the Bundesliga title for Bayern. After beating the stifled Schalke defense twice, Oezil has proven he has the quality to make the difference in big matches, and will be Bremen’s source of inspiration on Saturday.

Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

Watch him because he’s the Bundesliga’s most exciting player, and because he is the man most likely to be the catalyst behind any Bayern goal. With 22 goals to his credit, the Dutch winger is his team’s leading scorer, but that only tells half the story. It’s not just the number of goals, it’s the manner in which he scores them that makes Robben stand out. Brilliant efforts against Fiorentina and Manchester United kept Bayern from crashing out of the Champions League, and his solo effort in the Pokal semi-final against Schalke was one for the ages. If Bayern desperately need a goal, expect Robben to create it.

PREDICTION

With both teams well rested, at full strength, and on neutral ground, there can be only one favorite, and that’s the league champions. Bayern were better during the regular season, and have to be slightly favored to win. Either way, it should be a close match, and may even go to extra time or penalties.

Werder Bremen 1-2 Bayern Munich