Dortmund, Bayern seek final showdown

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund take their battle for supremacy in domestic football to the German Cup this week, hoping to set up a showdown in the final.

Bundesliga champion and front-runner Dortmund travels to second-division leader Greuther Fuerth for the first semifinal on Tuesday.

A day later, title holder Bayern is at Bundesliga rival Borussia Moenchengladbach in the second semifinal. The final is May 12 in Berlin's Olympic stadium.

Dortmund is undefeated in 20 Bundesliga matches and is hoping to win a double. But Greuther Fuerth has already knocked out two top-tier teams from the cup, Nuremberg and Hoffenheim.

"There is no danger of us not taking someone seriously 100 percent," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. "We know Greuther Fuerth from watching many of their second-division matches and we will not be taken by surprise."

Greuther Fuerth club president Helmut Hack said Tuesday's match will be the biggest game in the club's history as it seeks to reach the final for the first time. Just being in the final could mean a place in next season's Europa League.

"We've never had a such a quality team" Hack said.

Greuther Fuerth came close to gaining promotion several times, only to narrowly miss out. But this season the club looks set to move to the top tier for the first time.

Dortmund won the German Cup in 1965 and 1989.

Bayern is five points behind Dortmund in the Bundesliga but it has scored 20 goals in its last three matches.

Jupp Heynckes' team is also in the Champions League quarterfinals and remains in the running to win three competitions.

Moenchengladbach, Heynckes' old team as both player and coach, beat Bayern twice this season in the Bundesliga.

"It's an opportunity for us to take revenge," Heynckes said. "I am certain we are going to win. We have the momentum now."

Moenchengladbach has lost all five previous German Cup matches against Bayern.

"It's not easy to face Bayern, but we are playing at home," Moenchengladbach's coach Lucien Favre said. His team is still undefeated at home this season.

"It's great to be playing a semifinal at home against Bayern," captain Filip Daems said. "Cup games are always different from league matches. We've played well against top teams this season and we've been very strong at home."

While Bayern has a record 15 German Cup titles, Moenchengladbach is a three-time winner, with the last title coming in 1995.

All four semifinalists won league matches over the weekend.