German Cup final rehearsal gives chance to shine

Berlin: Eyes from across Europe will be watching Saturday`s German Cup final rehearsal between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund as Kevin De Bruyne, Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan use their last chances to impress potential suitors.

Arsenal and Real Madrid are said to covet Germany winger Reuss, even though he signed a contract extension in February. Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid are also watching his Dortmund teammate Gundogan who refused to sign a new deal.

Second-place Wolfsburg could struggle to hold onto Belgian international de Bruyne who has been heavily linked to a return to the English Premier League with Manchester United or Manchester City. He could also tempt Bayern Munich as they rebuild after failing to reach the Champions League final.

Wolfsburg and seventh-place Dortmund dispute the German Cup final in Berlin on May 30 but both have unfinished Bundesliga business first.

Reus took part in team training on Thursday having missed Saturday`s win over Hertha Berlin with a groin injury and could play a part in Borussia`s push for a European berth next season at Wolves.

Dortmund, who will also lose coach Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season, have risen 11 places since the winter break and a win would be an enormous boost in efforts to claim a Europa League spot. They are currently two points off sixth place Schalke.

Klopp stressed how Wolfsburg have won only three points more than Dortmund since the winter break. 

"The difference between the two sides isn`t as great as it was in the first half of the season," said Klopp who insisted the German Cup clash would be "a completely different contest".

Wolfsburg are also desperate for a win to stay ahead of Borussia Moenchengladbach in the battle for second place in the Bundesliga. And they have not lost a game at home yet this season.

Marcel Schafer, Luiz Gustavo and Ivan Perisic are being treated for "slight knocks" but manager Dieter Hecking said "our aim is to end the season unbeaten in our own stadium." 

Third place Borussia Monchengladbach, just two points behind Wolfsburg, go to Werder Bremen looking for their first win there in 28 years.

Still smarting from their Champions League semi-final exit to Barcelona, champions Bayern Munich are at Freiburg with Pep Guardiola`s side now just playing for pride. Their 25th German league title is already won.

Freiburg are only out of the relegation places on goal difference and would relish the chance of a rare win over the Bavarian giants however.

Guardiola is already reportedly planning to rebuild his squad for September. "We want to fight back next season. We`ll start from the beginning again," he said after the Barcelona game.

With Dortmund breathing down their neck, Schalke host relegation-threatened Paderborn having shaken up their squad after one win in eight games by releasing Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and Germany winger Sidney Sam.

Royal Blues bosses are furious after last Sunday`s embarrassing 2-0 defeat at Cologne and are desperate to the defeats which threaten their place in Europe next season.

There will also be a battle royal at the bottom of the table as two former Bundesliga giants slug it out when bottom side Stuttgart host Hamburg, also in the danger zone, with just two points separating the bottom sides which also including Paderborn, Freiburg and Hanover.
Fixtures

Saturday (all games 1330 GMT)

Schalke v Paderborn, Bayer Leverkusen v Hoffenheim, VfL Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund, Mainz 05 v Cologne, Augsburg v Hanover 96, Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen v Borussia Moenchengladbach, Freiburg v Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart v Hamburg