Just for a second, Bayern seem to have Mats Hummels and Co on the back foot, but they lose momentum and the move ends with Douglas Costa floating a 25-yard effort well over the bar, and into the Dortmund fans behind the goal. Half-an-hour gone.

Image source, AP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes another burst down the right as Borussia Dortmund seek to catch Bayern Munich on the break. Josh Kimmich rathjer commits himself to the challenge and suddenly Aubameyang is in... but Jerome Boateng bails out his youthful defensive partner with a fine challenge. Kimmich is having to learn fast here.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty

We're around 20 minutes from kick-off in Rome, where the Coppa Italia final has even captured the attention of Pope Francis.

The Argentine is a fan of San Lorenzo back in his homeland, but has kept shtum as to whether he has adopted a team in Italy.

He has both squads over before this cup final and told the AC Milan and Juventus players to "be champions of sport, but above all champions in life".

Nice.

Half-a-chance for Thomas Muller there, as he times his run to get in front of Lukasz Piszczek and meet a corner with his head. The ball flies a good six yards wide, though. Muller, with 32 club goals to his name for the season, looks a tad disappointed with himself. Pep Guardiola springs to the touchline to shout words of encouragement. We're at the midway point in the first half.

Image source, Getty Images

That Thomas Muller long-ranger aside, the opening 18 minutes of this DFB-Pokal final might best be described as cagey. Borussia Dortmund are looking to catch Bayern on the counter attack; the champions are enjoying plenty of possession, without causing too many problems so far.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

The big news coming out of Rome, if you're just joining us, is that Mario Balotelli has been dropped to the bench for tonight's Coppa Italia final. It has been another season down the gurgler for Balotelli who was hauled off at half-time in AC Milan's defeat by Roma last weekend.

The 25-year-old is not keen on heading back to Merseyside when his loan spell comes to an end at the end of this season, telling Italian media that he "was never happy at Liverpool".

In contrast, Juventus' Paul Pogba has shown that the hype is justified.

The Frenchman has been the heartbeat of Max Allegri's side and aims to keep improving, telling ESPN this week, external that he wants to incorporate aspects of the modern-day greats into his game.

"Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, [Lionel] Messi, everyone. [Andres] Iniesta," he said. "I'm serious. All players rolled into one.

"I'd like to get to the level where I have everything: [Patrick] Vieira, [Didier] Deschamps, Zidane, Ronaldinho, [Thierry] Henry, Ronaldo. It wouldn't be bad, that."

All square instantly at Wembley: Juan Mata has brought Manchester United level, and extra-time beckons, to the delight of all of those on public transport.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had quite a season for Borussia Dortmund. The striker - named African footballer of the year in January - heads off on a run down the right, but his cross is over hit.

Image source, gett

There's been a goal in the FA Cup final at Wembley, by the way - and it's gone to Crystal Palace. Jason Puncheon has put Alan Pardew's team ahead with 13 minutes to go. You can follow that game here.

Image source, Getty Images

Kick off in the Coppa Italia final, meanwhile, is 35 minutes away. And this one has a personal edge.

Massimiliano Allegri was the last manager to lift a trophy for AC Milan, winning the Super Cup against city rivals Inter Milan in August 2011 after landing the club's first title since 2004 a few months earlier.

But the success slowed and Silvio Berlusconi's patience wore thin. The club's owner was overheard saying that Allegri did not "have a clue" about football.

He was binned in January 2014. Juventus picked him up as a replacement for Antonio Conte.

He came within one game of a treble in his first season in Turin - losing the Champions League final to Barcelona.

After initially struggling in Serie A this season, the Old Lady completed their title defence last month.

Terrific colour and atmosphere inside the Olympiastadion tonight: Dortmund's yellow wall has transferred itself to the capital, while a large bank of red cheers on Bayern.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Bayern having plenty of possession in the early stages. Thomas Muller, out wide on the right a good 30 yards from goal, lets fly with a shot that dips just iover the bar. TV replays show goalkeeper Roman Burki gets a touch on the way - it might have gone in otherwise. Goal kick given, though. That would have been some start.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, .

Playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan has had a stellar season for Borussia Dortmund.

He has racked up 15 assists in the Bundeliga - four more than any other player in the German top-flight - as well as a handy 11 goals.

He is the only player to have scored in every round of this season's DFB-Pokal as well.

You can't post those sort of numbers and expect to stay under the transfer radar. According to reports in his native Armenia,, external the 27-year-old could be playing his last game for his current club ahead of a move to Arsenal.

It's a repeat of the DFB-Pokal finals of 2008, 2012 and 2014. Bayern came out on top two years ago. Who will triumph tonight?

As we wait for the action to get under way in Berlin, some quick team news from Rome, where the Coppa Italia final between AC Milan and Juventus gets under way in around 45 minutes.

The big news is that AC Milan boss Cristian Brocchi has dropped Mario Balotelli to the bench, after an underwhelming 45-minute appearance in defeat at home to Roma last weekend.

AC Milan XI: Donnarumma; Calabria, Zapata, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Poli, Montolivo, Kucka; Honda, Bonaventura; Bacca

Juventus XI: Neto, Rugani, Barzagli, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Lemina, Hernanes, Pogba, Evra, Dybala, Mandzukic.

Image source, BBC Sport

Borussia Dortmund recorded the highest score of any team in this season's German cup by putting seven past second-tier Paderborn in round two. Bayern's semi-final win over Werder Bremen was mired in controversy: Arturo Vidal dived to win a penalty, and prompted referee Tobias Stieler to apologise afterwards for not spotting the deceit.

Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel makes two changes to the team who were held 2-2 by Cologne in their final Bundesliga match: Henrik Mkhitaryan and Lukasz Piszczek come in, with Shinji Kagawa and Adrian Ramos dropping to the bench.

Borussia Dortmund XI: Burki; Bender, Papastathopoulos, Hummels, Schmelzer; Weigl, Castro; Mkhitaryan, Piszczek, Reus; Aubameyang.

Substitutes: Weidenfeller, Sahin, Ramos, Pulisic, Kagawa, Ginter, Durm.

Three changes for Bayern from the side who ended their Bundesliga campaign with a 3-1 victory over Hannover last weekend: Midfielder Mario Gotze is out with a broken rib, while Kingsley Coman and Mehdi Benatia drop out. Joshua Kimmich steps up in defence, while Thomas Muller and Douglas Costa return after being rested.

Bayern Munich XI: Neuer; Lahm, Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba; Vidal; Costa, Muller, Thiago, Ribery; Lewandowski.

Substitutes: Ulreich, Benatia, Rafinha, Alonso, Bernat, Rode, Coman.

Image source, BBC Sport

Bayern Munich have been the dominant force in German football this season, creating history by becoming the first club to win the Bundesliga four years running. Tonight gives them the opportunity to complete a domestic double for the third time in four seasons. 

Image source, AFP

Hummels will follow Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski in making the switch from Dortmund to Munich, fuelling the sense that Bayern's wealth is draining the talent of their closest challengers.

Bayern striker Lewandowski weighed in on the controversy this week, with little care for diplomacy. On Hummels, he said: "I think he just wants to win titles now."

A pointed reference, it would seem, to the fact that Dortmund are without a trophy since 2012. Ouch.