Treble-chasing Bayern on verge of history

Champions League winners aim for triumph in today’s German Cup final.

BERLIN: Champions League winners Bayern Munich are aiming to complete a historic treble in today’s German Cup final against VfB Stuttgart but the Bavarians are smarting at the enforced absence of centre-back Dante for the Berlin showdown.

Bayern have been told by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) that Dante, as well as defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo, must report for international duty before today’s deadline as Brazil prepare to host the Confederations Cup from June 15.

Both players are upset at missing the final, and Bayern Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has branded CBF’s standpoint as ‘inhuman, ruthless, unfair and unacceptable’.

However, Bayern’s focus is on becoming only the seventh side in Europe to achieve the feat of winning the treble of European Cup, domestic league and cup titles. Should they write their names into the history books, it will be a fitting tribute to the Bayern team which won this season’s Bundesliga title by breaking or equalling 25 league records.

Vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger said it is ‘very, very important’ to complete the set.

“The team is very eager to win the cup,” said Schweinsteiger. “Of course, it was something special to win at Wembley, but the concentration on Berlin is increasing day by day.”

Belgium centre-back Daniel van Buyten will come in for Dante alongside Jerome Boateng in the only change from the team which started the Wembley final.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2013.