Wistful Hitzfeld meets a troubled Dortmund

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said that "a circle is closing" as his FC Bayern München side meet his old club, BV Borussia Dortmund, in Saturday's German Cup final.

Twin peaks
Now 59, Hitzfeld will leave Bayern for a second time this summer, becoming Switzerland coach after UEFA EURO 2008™, and he was pleased to be playing Dortmund, where he took his first job in Germany between 1991 and 1997. "It's a dream final for me," said Hitzfeld, who won the UEFA Champions League with both clubs. "A circle is closing. The two clubs are an important part of my life."

Crushing defeat
Few in Germany doubt that he will end the day on the winning side. Bayern thumped Dortmund 5-0 last weekend and showed why they are runaway Bundesliga leaders on Wednesday as they came from behind to win 3-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt. Dortmund, meanwhile, lost at home to Hanover 96 by the same scoreline, with coach Thomas Doll saying "we have not yet got over the defeat in Munich".

On the ropes
Doll added: "We lost the ball too easily, and were never calm in possession. The fans were right to boo us." Switzerland striker Alexander Frei, who grabbed Dortmund's only goal against the run of play after a rare good move, said: "We are like a boxer who has been hit twice right on the eye and gone down. We will either rise up again or keep lying down."

'Show some teeth'
With regular No1 Roman Weidenfeller injured and deputy Marc Ziegler doubtful, 20-year-old reserve custodian Marcel Höttecke could continue in goal after making a nervy Bundesliga debut against Hannover. Fans may be relieved if Ziegler is fit again for Saturday, while Doll – whose job could be at stake – demanded that his side "show some teeth and march into the Olympiastadion to win the cup".

Stunning form
Bayern, meanwhile, have Oliver Kahn, Miroslav Klose and Marcell Jansen back from injury while Luca Toni is scoring at will, with two goals in each of his last three games. "Toni has an incredible mentality," said Hitzfeld. "I have often offered him a break but he always says he wants to score goals." Given their situation, Dortmund would love Toni to finally take Hitzfeld up on his offer this weekend.