Bayern plan to party as Wembley final looms

BERLIN (AFP) –

The German DFB Cup trophy is on display at the Rotes Rathaus city hall in Berlin on May 7, 2013. Bayern Munich are planning a huge street party in the Bavarian capital on Saturday to celebrate their Bundesliga title, even though their Champions League final at Wembley against German rivals Borussia Dortmund follows just a fortnight later.

Bayern Munich are planning a huge street party in the Bavarian capital on Saturday to celebrate their Bundesliga title, even though their Champions League final at Wembley against German rivals Borussia Dortmund follows just a fortnight later.

Bayern were confirmed German league champions back on April 6, when they won the Bundesliga with a record six games left to play, and plan to party after Saturday’s final home league match against Augsburg when they will finally be handed the trophy.

Captain Philipp Lahm will receive the shield from Reinhard Rauball, president of the German Football League (DFL) at the Allianz Arena and the team will drive by motorcade to the city centre where a party is planned at Munich’s iconic Marienplatz.

The team will display the trophy from the town hall’s balcony, as is customary, and coach Jupp Heynckes has already given his side the Sunday off training, while fans have been asked by the club to come to the Augsburg game in traditional Bavarian costume.

Despite the celebration, the team still have two cup finals to play with the Champions League showcase finale on May 25, followed by the German Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on June 1.

Meanwhile, the Bavarian giants have confirmed Pep Guardiola’s first day as Bayern head coach will be June 26, before he takes the squad to Trentino, Italy, for a training camp from July 4-12, with current coach Heynckes to stand down at the end of the season.

Munich will play several friendlies against lower-league clubs before they take on Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season tournament in Moenchengladbach on July 20, then facing Guardiola’s ex-club Barcelona in a Munich friendly on July 24.

The Spanish giants will be looking for revenge after Bayern romped to a 7-0 win on aggregate in last week’s Champions League semi-final.