Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 6y

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a doubt for Dortmund's cup clash vs. Bayern

Borussia Dortmund head coach Peter Stoger hopes to end a turbulent year for the club on a high in their DFB Pokal clash at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, though they could be without attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Having returned to the Champions League spots in the Bundesliga with two consecutive wins under new head coach Stoger after failing to record a league triumph since September, Dortmund now hope to make it three DFB Pokal victories in a row at the Allianz Arena to open the door to a fifth consecutive cup final appearance.

Bayern and Dortmund have met in the competition in each of the last six seasons. While both sides have won three and lost three, Dortmund have come out on top in their last two at the Allianz Arena, beating Bayern on penalties in the semifinals in 2015 and last season qualifying for the final with a 3-2 win following Ousmane Dembele's late strike.

"Sure, you have that record in the back of the head," Stoger told his prematch news conference. "But you can only take a feeling from things that have been, and it has no other influence. It's more target-orientated to look at things which did work. Looking at the good things gives you a false feeling of security, which soon turns into tranquillity and arrogance."

After losing 18 points on Bayern in the Bundesliga in under three months, Dortmund's sole chance of lifting domestic silverware this season looks to be retaining the DFB Pokal, and Stoger said he is aware that "if you beat Bayern, the chances of winning it all are much higher."

However, Dortmund could be without striker Aubameyang, who did not train in recent days with muscular problems.

"It's still open," Stoger said. "We have over a day left, and he could either play or not."

Stoger added: "We will be prepared. There are not many things you don't know about Bayern. Bayern and weakness? It doesn't really fit in a sentence. They are back on track under Jupp Heynckes. And even though it didn't look that easy in recent matches, a home game in the cup vs. Dortmund will make them really strong again."

Stoger was only appointed as the new BVB head coach in early December, a few days after getting sacked at Cologne following just three points from 14 matches.

"This is a highlight for me. It's personally been an interesting, moving, exciting and strange year," Stoger said. "It's a story nobody could have imagined. And a cup match at Bayern with Dortmund is the icing on the cake. We will get our chances to beat them. It's very special, it's definitely a highlight."

Meanwhile, the bomber of the BVB team bus before a Champions League game last season will be put to trial at Dortmund's district court on Thursday, but Stoger said it was currently not being discussed in the dressing room.

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