BVB miss out on DFB Cup as FCB win 4-3 on penalties

A crowd of 74,322 spectators in a sold-out Olympiastadion saw a match that was highly tactical for long spells but increasingly came to life as the second half wore on. The Bavarians were the dominant force, creating more chances and piling the pressure on particularly in the second 45 minutes, while BVB defended with great passion and had a great chance to win 1-0 late on through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following a counter (85').

With the match in extra-time Erik Durm made a spectacular last-ditch sliding tackle to block Lewandowski's shot from 11 metres (94'). Crazy! At the other end Mkhitaryan (104') then missed the opportunity to win the game, before Roman Bürki kept BVB's hopes of reaching the penalty shoot-out alive by making a sensational save to prevent Alaba from opening the scoring (114').

Penalties at the Marathon Gate end

1-0 Kagawa, 1-1 Vidal, Bender saved by Neuer, 1-2 Lewandowski, Sokratis hits the post, Kimmich saved by Bürki, 2-2 Aubameyang, 2-3 Müller, 3-3 Reus, 3-4 Douglas Costa.

Felix Ulrich reports

The scenario
BVB reached the DFB Cup final in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and the UEFA Champions League showpiece in 2013. Next up was the 2016 DFB Cup final. Not a bad record, but it was time for the club to step up. "Once you've reached five finals over the course of five years, simply reaching the final is no longer enough!" said Thomas Tuchel shortly before kick-off. The coach was adamant his team should not settle for the underdog role, saying: "In Berlin we want to be the opponent that is capable of overcoming Bayern in this one-off match."

Personnel matters
Thomas Tuchel made two changes to the starting XI that drew 2-2 in the league last weekend, bringing in Mkhitaryan and Piszczek for Kagawa and Ramos, who dropped to the bench. Injuries meant Subotic, Park und Gündogan missed the clash in the capital. Bayern boss Pep Guardiola made three changes to the side that triumphed 3-1 against Hannover 96, with Douglas Costa, Kimmich and Müller replacing Benatia, Coman (both on the bench) and Götze (broken rib).

Tactics
When in possession BVB played in a 3-5-2 formation with Aubameyang and Reus leading the attack. Without the ball, however, Piszczek and Schmelzer dropped back to form a five-man defence alongside Bender, Sokratis and Hummels. In front of them Mkhitaryan, Weigl and Castro formed a three-man midfield. The men from Munich took to the field in a 4-1-4-1 system.

The match & analysis
There were few incidents of note to begin with as the two teams sounded each other out, with both BVB and FC Bayern eager to avoid making mistakes. In fact, there was almost no penalty box action in the first period. Largely because Borussia defended passionately and closed down spaces against a Bayern side that had more of the ball and still managed to threaten when Müller shot from distance (4') and then headed goal-wards (22').

First shot on goal in the 33rd minute

It was not until the 33rd minute that this high-intensity affair yielded the first shot, Douglas Costa striking the ball from 18 metres but Bürki - despite his poor view - making the save. Referee Marco Fritz (Korb) then made the correct decision not to award a penalty as Sokratis battled with Bayern's Lewandowski for the loose ball.

But there was more action to come in the 33rd minute, however, as Aubameyang countered and BVB had their one and only shot of the first half. But the attempt was wide of the mark and Neuer was not called into action.

The major talking point of the first period came when Franck Ribery raised a hand to Castro's face, pushing the Dortmund player away. The pair were both booked (39'). sky expert Lothar Matthäus, a man not exactly known for his anti-Bayern views due to his affiliation with the club, felt it should have been red. "Ribery got away with giving him a black eye," he said.

After the interval the high intensity continued: BVB fans set off flares, delaying the restart to the match; then Vidal was booked following a slide tackle on Weigl (47') and was lucky not to see red for a second bookable offence following a tactical foul on Mkhitaryan shortly afterwards (49').

Both teams soon started to play better football and take more shots at goal. Ribery's shot went narrowly wide (52'), before both Müller and Lewandowski failed to get on the end of Douglas Costa's cross (56'). At the other end Aubameyang fired over from a centre-right position in the box ten metres out (57'). BVB were then fortunate to see Lewandowski shoot narrowly over the crossbar after being found by Müller (64').

Mats Hummels forced off through injury

In the 70th minute the Black and Yellows made the first of their changes, with Durm coming on for the injured Schmelzer. From this point onwards the Bavarians consistently upped the pressure. In fact, FCB had had 64% possession and 11 shots to Dortmund's five by the time the match entered the final 15 minutes - and Ribery had squandered the big chance to make it 1-0, Bürki clearing the deflected shot away for a corner (75').

Shortly afterwards Mats Hummels' career with Borussia Dortmund came to an end. Carrying an injury and with a yellow card to his name, the captain was replaced by Ginter in central defence (78'). With around five minutes remaining BVB had their big chance to secure the win. Operating from a 5-4-1 formation, the Black and Yellows allowed themselves to be pushed back by Bayern, waiting for the chance to counter. But when it came, Aubameyang fired his shot over Neuer's goal following a Piszczek cross (85').

After 90 minutes of normal time, FC Bayern were the more dominant of the two teams with 64% possession, 13 shots to six and a tackle win rate of 52%. However, BVB continued to have their moments and were solid at the back, thus causing the record champions problems.

Durm makes last-gasp block against Lewandowski

Extra-time began with a spectacular piece of play from Erik Durm, the 24-year-old sliding in just in time to get in front of Lewandowski as the Pole pulled the trigger and thus preventing the opener (94'). The Bayern fans were almost ready to celebrate. It was then the turn of the Black and Yellow contingent to be on the edge of their seats, but Mkhitaryan's shot towards the far corner went narrowly wide of goal (104').

In the second period of extra time both sets of players were noticeably tiring, with the match stopping frequently to help players with cramp. Bürki, however, was still fighting fit and kept BVB in the match: first of all the Swiss shot-stopper cleared a deflected cross by Douglas Costa away for a corner (113') before making an incredible stop following Alaba's attempt from 15 metres out (114'). The closing stages belonged to the BVB fans, with the words "our entire life, our entire pride" ringing through the Olympiastadion until match official Marco Fritz blew his whistle.

Prospects
The DFB Cup final was the last action of the 2015/16 season for the BVB players, who will now begin the summer break following a 56-match domestic campaign. Some of them will be heading to the European Championships in France on 9 June. The club's 2016/17 domestic campaign starts at the beginning of July.

Teams & goals