Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Frankfurt: What to watch in the DFB Pokal final

Bayern Munich face Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal final on Saturday. Here’s what to watch as the Bavarians go for the domestic double.

Can Niko Kovac pull one over his future side?

One of the biggest talking points ahead of tomorrow’s match revolves around future Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac. The Croatian has led Eintracht Frankfurt admirably for the past few seasons, but will make the jump to Bavaria’s capital this summer.

Kovac’s appointment, officially announced about a month ago, has been met with a mixed reception from the Bayern faithful. He’s not the most proven of coaches, his lack of experience with star players unnerving for many fans. And though he’s done some impressive work with Frankfurt, many still doubt his tactical capability.

The former Bayern player has never been able to overcome old club as a manager. He did, however, manage a scrappy 2-2 draw last season and has narrowly lost 1-0 on two occasions.

Beating the Bavarians tomorrow might upset his future employers, but it could also go a long way in proving his doubters wrong. If he can overcome the biggest team in Germany with a squad valued at less than €115 million, imagine what he could do with the players at Bayern Munich.

Jupp’s final farewell

A win for Eintracht Frankfurt would be great for Bayern’s impending manager, but terrible for their current one. Tomorrow will be Jupp Heynckes final match as Bayern Munich manager (this time for good), and losing the DFB Pokal final in Berlin would be just about the worst possible way for the club to send him off.

Since taking over as interim manager last October, Jupp has completely reversed the club’s fortunes. He took what looked to be one of the most disappointing Bundesliga seasons in recent memory and turned it into one of the most memorable. It’s only fitting that Heynckes be sent off with an emphatic victory.

Will Bayern start off on their strong foot?

If Bayern Munich are to send Jupp Heynckes off with a big win, then it’s crucial they come strong out of the gate. Lackadaisical starts to matches against “lesser” opponents has become an unfortunate characteristic of Bayern’s play this season.

There will be absolutely no room for that tomorrow. Niko Kovac’s men will be typically fired up and ready to give a hard-nosed performance. Bayern Munich can’t allow themselves to be caught off guard.

They haven’t secured the double yet. Only one match, against very manageable opposition, stands in their way. But anything can happen in the DFB Pokal. If Bayern don’t take this final seriously, they could suffer another embarrassing defeat.

Robert Lewandowski

Another big question leading up to tomorrow’s match is whether or not Robert Lewandowski will make his mark on the match. After his recent poor performances against Real Madrid, the Polish striker has come under some hard criticism for not stepping up in the big matches.

Eintracht Frankfurt are by no means a “big” opponent, but the DFB Pokal final is certainly a big occasion. Lewandowski will be doing himself no favors with the Bayern faithful if he fails to put his name on the score sheet (or at least give 100 percent effort) against the Eagles.

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Bonus: Manuel Neuer is back! (kinda)

It was announced earlier today that Manuel Neuer is with the team in Berlin and will be featured in Bayern’s squad tomorrow. He won’t start the game (that honor belongs to Sven Ulreich), but it will certainly be interesting to see if Jupp Heynckes allows him a late substitution if the Bavarians have established a good lead. Either way, Neuer hasn’t made a first team appearance since September, so simply having him in the squad is a huge boost!