Marcel Schmelzer can write footballing history tomorrow evening – together with Lukasz Piszczek. Both of Borussia Dortmund's full-backs are going into their sixth grand final in a row. Never before has a footballer playing in Germany achieved that.

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This excellent run should end how it began: with a victory, with the capture of the German Football Cup. "Our main objective is not just to come to Berlin, but to win the cup", announced the team captain, as they did on 12. May 2012 with a 5-2 win over FC Bayern Munich.

In between there have been four defeats for Borussia Dortmund – and so also for Marcel Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek: in 2013 the Champions League final lost so unfortunately in the last minute against Bayern Munich, in 2014 the unjust defeat in the cup final against the Bavarians, in 2015 the unnecessary defeat against Wolfsburg, and in 2016 the misfortune in the penalty shootout, likewise against Munich.

"Every one of these defeats has a story. And from each of these finals we took something with us", emphasised Schmelzer. "Now we are here again, and our entire focus is on winning the game tomorrow and winning the cup."

The manager will play both Schmelzer and Piszczek if they are fit – Thomas Tuchel made that clear. "He's participated in training the whole week, and I assume that he will be able to play", said Tuchel of Piszczek, and Schmelzer spoke for himself at the press conference: "I completed a running session yesterday, and I didn't have any problems with it. I will participate in the final training session before the final this evening, after which we will have a clearer picture."

And think back to the start of this incredible run of finals that began five years ago with that 5-2 victory over Bayern Munich.

Boris Rupert