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After losing consecutive games in the League, Bayern Munich got their domestic form back on track with a 5-1 victory over Kaiserslautern in the semi-final of the DFB Pokal. Although he didn’t score, Dutch winger Arjen Robben was the main man for Munich as they mauled second division Kaiserslautern to stay on course for a second-successive treble as they set up a mouth-watering German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals next week, have won the German Cup a record 16 times. Although they haven’t won in their last three league games, including their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Dortmund on Saturday, Bayern returned back to form thanks to a convincing win over hapless Kaiserslautern.
Bayern started the game briskly and the visitors, who had a good start, paid the ultimate price when Bastian Schweinsteiger was given far too much space in the box to head home from a Robben corner. And the Dutchman was at it again, as he cut into the middle, before laying the ball off for Toni Kroos to fire home the second after 32 minutes.
Kaiserslautern managed to get to half-time without conceding any further goals, but conceded one right after the restart, as Robben was fouled in the penalty box. The spot kick was duly converted by Thomas Muller, who became the leading goal scorer in the competition with seven goals.
But, instead of accepting their fate, Kaiserslautern went on the offensive and Simon Zoller’s glancing header on the hour mark gave the visitors a lifeline. But, that was nothing more than consolation as Mario Mandzukic scored, 12 minutes from time and Gotze added another in stoppage time, to put the game beyond the visitors.
In the final, Bayern come up against their nemesis from Saturday, Borussia Dortmund, who previously won the Cup in 2012, in what promises to be a fascinating encounter in more ways than one. Dortmund booked their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
