DFB Pokal title can lift doom and gloom at Borussia Dortmund

Pepe Guardiola’s Bayern Munich are on course for another Bundesliga title but while Borussia Dortmund sit some 17 points off the pace, they could still scupper plans of a domestic double in the DFB Pokal.

The Bavarians are the 8/11 favourites to claim the German Cup following an impressive domestic run that has seen them pick up a sensational 53 points from the 57 available in the Bundesliga.

As the 16-time winners and current holders they will be desperate to retain the title but in the DFB Pokal, as in the FA Cup, it only takes one poor performance for dreams to be crushed.

And if one team is going to spoil the Munich party in the DFB Pokal this term it is 5/2 second favourites Dortmund, who will be out to regain the trophy they won just two seasons ago.

That year Die Schwarzgelben defeated Bayern 5-2 in the final and may have gone further last year were it not for the fact that they met the Bavarians in the quarter finals.

Dortmund dominated that contest but ultimately fell to a world-class strike from Arjen Robben – the same man who made the difference in the Champions League final.

This time around Jurgen Klopp’s team will line up against Eintracht Frankfurt and despite the tie taking place away from the Westfalenstadion, the visitors should be fancied.

Dortmund have won three and drawn one of their previous four against the Frankfurters, who remain close to the relegation zone and may see the cup as an unwelcome distraction.

Guardiola’s side, meanwhile, heads to Hamburg in what, on paper, should be a straightforward win over another team deep in the relegation mire.

But Die Rothosen have a habit of raising their game for the visit of Munich, with Bayern winning on just four of their last 10 visits to the region.

And should they progress then a meeting with Dortmund in the semis or even final looks likely.

Bayern may have triumped over an injury hit BVB side in the league this term and last season’s European Cup but sandwiched in between those victories was a 4-2 defeat to a fully-fit Dortmund team in the German Super Cup.

Should Klopp’s side be at full strength for any DFB Pokal meeting then Bundesliga pain could become cup joy for the boys in yellow.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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