GOOD EVENING! Hello and welcome along to live minute-by-minute commentary of the DFB-Pokal final between Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. Bayern can complete a domestic double with a 21st DFB-Pokal this evening at Olympiastadion in Berlin, but even that might not be enough to keep Niko Kovac in his job. We have all the team news and build up on the way, with kick-off at 7pm UK time.
DFB-Pokal / Final
Olympiastadion / 25.05.2019
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- R. Lewandowski(29', 85')
- K. Coman(78')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 25/05/2019 at 19:57 GMT
16'
RB Leipzig
Konate is now down after losing his footing and having his head flicked back a little by Lewandowski whilst on the ground, but nothing intentional. Looked very uncomfortable but he'll be OK to continue.
14'
RB Leipzig
There was a little bit of a pull and a hold from Lewandowski on Konate, so the Bayern striker was somewhat fortunate there, but we should say that was a superb save from Neuer.
Pure instinctive stuff as from distance, Sabitzer drags a right-foot shot a good few yards wide.
11'
Leipzig have enjoyed the greater possession so far as Forsberg wins the corner off Hummels. Good movement from Werner there caused problems for Bayern. What can they make of this?
OFF THE BAR! The outswinger is met by Poulsen but his header is tipped onto the bar! Great reflexes from Neuer!!
Was there a little pull from Lewandowski on Konate's shoulder. He's happy for it not to be checked by the VAR officials. Play on.
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Image credit: Getty Images
10'
Nice cushioned, one-touch football from Leipzig down the left very nearly gets Poulsen in behind Kimmich, but the Denmark striker is penalised for a push on the full-back.
8'
We've seen the industry of Kampl already in this game as he seeks to grind down his opponents. The same can be said of the hounding work from Sabitzer, forcing Bayern back. The lofted ball forward from Alaba is headed out by Konate.
6'
FOUL! Kimmich is this time penalised for a high boot on Halstenberg, awarding Leipzig a decent chance to load the box, with the Bayern fans bouncing arm in arm behind that goal on the right.
Neuer comes out to collect the outswinger from Halstenberg, comfortably.
4'
FC Bayern Munich
WIDE!! Here's the first effort as Serge Gnabry chops inside Halstenberg and drags his left-foot shot a couple of yards wide of Gulacsi's left-hand post.
3'
Leipzig look to make a bright start as Klostermann's ball down the line races away from Werner as Bayern gain the goal-kick.
Gnabry and Alaba combine before Klostermann sees the ball out down the other end. Both sides just feeling each other out in these early stages.
1st Half
KICK OFF
KICK OFF!
After the German national anthem, the coin toss, the handshakes, it is RB Leipzig in their traditional white shirts and red shorts and socks, against Bayern Munich, in their red shirts, white shorts and white socks.
German head coach Joachim Löw has been spotted high in the stands at the Olympiastadion.
18:56
HERE WO GO!!
Techno music blasts out the overhead speakers, the flags go up and out come the players.
It's like Star Wars. The supporters at both ends reveal tifos and the strings play, the cymbols crash. It's glorious. And Niko Kovac looks very, very calm.
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Image credit: Getty Images
18:51
BATTLE FOR THE MIDFIELD
Despite this feeling a special day for Leipzig, it's always an ambition of Bayern's to win a major trophy, a week after lifting the Bundesliga.
After securing their seventh Meisterschale in a row, Bayern can secure a first double since 2016 and their twelth ever.
The battle for supremacy in midfield could prove critical to who wins this one tonight as the pre-match ceremony now gets into full swing.
18:45
COUNTDOWN TO KICK OFF!
We're 15 minutes away from kick-off in Berlin, and the stands are already a sea of red and white. Having only been founded 10 years ago, Leipzig reached the Bundesliga in 2016, but this year has already been historic for them in the DFB-Pokal.
The Saxony club reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the competition for the very first time, so they can already feel a sense of achievement.
Both league encounters earlier this season proved tight indeed, with Bayern winning 1-0 at the Allianz Arena in December, before the reverse game ended in a stalemate.
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Image credit: Getty Images
18:38
RB Leipzig
CAN LEIPZIG BREACH NEUER?
Leipzig will like nothing more than to spoil the swansong for Ribery and Robben. They go in search of a first first major honour - and the players will also like to honour their manager.
Rangnick will also be waving goodbye to his role when he returns to become the club's sporting director after Saturday.
Manuel Neuer returns to the side after six weeks out with a claf problem, so the likes of Timo Werner will want to test him early...
18:33
RB Leipzig
BEST ATTACK vs BEST DEFENCE
No side in the 2018/19 Bundesliga season possessed a better defence than RB Leipzig, who conceded just 29 goals.
Ralf Rangnick's side have also only lost twice since the start of the calendar year, meaning Bayern will come up against strong opponents this evening in Berlin.
Meanwhile, Bayern themselves have the most potent attack with 88 goals scored in just 34 Bundesliga matches. ‘David vs. Goliath’, this is not.
Emil Forsberg, who starts in the plamaker role tonight, said: “We’ve had a lot of fun together.
"We also know what we have to do to win the final. We have been training hard each day and have managed to reach the final. We also now want to secure the title.”
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Image credit: Getty Images
18:26
FC Bayern Munich
FAREWELL TO THREE LEGENDS
Tonight marks the end of the road for three players who have served Bayern Munich with distinction for several years. Rafinha, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery will hope to bow out as with another Pokal trophy to add to their list of domestic honours.
Rafinha has enjoyed eight successful years in Bavaria, while Ribery collected his ninth Bundesliga title last week, more than any other player at the club.
Robben will forever be remembered fondly for his role in helping Bayern secure the treble in 2013, scoring the winner in the Champions League final as well as lifting the two major domestic titles.
18:17
RB Leipzig
RB LEIPZIG TEAM NEWS
RB Leipzig starting XI: Gulacsi, Halstenberg, Orban, Konate, Klostermann, Adams, Kampl, Forsberg, Sabitzer, Poulsen, Werner.
Subs: Cunha, Demme, Haidara, Laimer, Mukiele, Mvogo, Upamecano.
18:10
FC Bayern Munich
BAYERN MUNICH TEAM NEWS
Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer, Sule, Hummels, Alaba, Kimmich, Martinez, Thiago, Gnabry, Coman, Muller, Lewandowski.
Subs: Ulreich, Rafinha, Boateng, Tolisso, Sanches, Ribery, Robben.