Bayern set out to repeat Cup triumph

Some 84 days after sealing a record 12th DFB German Cup triumph, the holders begin the task of retaining the trophy with a return to the Berlin Olympic stadium on Sunday afternoon for a first-round meeting with fourth division MSV 1919 Neuruppin.

In a very real sense, Felix Magath's men are looking to reach Berlin via Berlin: Sunday's opponents chose to switch the match from their compact home ground some 80 kilometres from the German capital in order to accommodate a larger - and more lucrative - crowd. "We don't have a problem with that. We feel at home there," the Reds boss smiled. "We want to emulate last term and make the trip to Berlin - but not just against Neuruppin, we want to contest the final."

Players prepare with video analysis

However, the road to Berlin next May is a long and potentially thorny one. Munich are well aware Sunday's task involves negotiating the traditional banana-skin in waiting, a first-round meeting against rank outsiders with nothing to lose. "We've prepared as if it was a Bundesliga fixture," Magath reported. "We know our opponents' strengths and weaknesses, and their preferred style," he continued. The team would gather on Sunday morning for a video analysis, "so they know who they're up against in the afternoon."

Magath admitted even the most thorough preparations might not prevent his side from underestimating their opponents. "There's no way I can dupe my players into thinking they're facing the most difficult opponents of the season, so I'm not even going to try," the 52-year-old pointed out. Nevertheless, the coach has been in the trade too long not to have learnt methods of helping his players concentrate as they face what on paper looks like a mis-match.

Chance for squad players

Both Bastian Schweinsteiger and Claudio Pizarro are strong candidates for first appearances of the season, with Zé Roberto and Sebastian Deisler likely to make the starting line-up, this too for the first time this term.

"This is an opportunity for those who haven't had much match practice to show they're in at least as good shape as the others," Magath observed. By contrast, the stars with the most minutes under their belts would be rested. "Overall, I hope we show enough determination to make it a cut-and-dried affair, and avoid any problems."

Score early, Magath urges team

Magath offered a simple recipe for success against Neuruppin, coached by former Bundesliga pro Christian Schreier. "We need to show them who's boss right from the start. If we succeed, it should be a simple 90 minutes. I want to see us go for goal from the kick-off, and establish a two or three goal lead. That should calm things down," the boss commented. "It should be blatantly obvious we have no intention of stumbling in the first round."

Neuruppin coach Schreier admitted his ambitions were limited to avoiding a thrashing against the Cup holders, declaring he would be happy with a 5-1 defeat. "Just scoring would be a dream come true. The lads should go out there and enjoy the occasion, but they mustn't be afraid," he insisted. Keeper Marian Unger came across as considerably more confident. "I'm hoping to maintain a proud record. I've never let in more than two goals in any league or Cup game."

Probable line-up:

Bayern Munich: Kahn – Sagnol, Ismael, Jeremies, Lizarazu - Schweinsteiger, Hargreaves, Zé Roberto, Karimi – Pizarro, Santa Cruz