Bayern Munich faced Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final, which was the last piece in the jigsaw to complete a memorable treble.
Stuttgart were the better side for large parts of the first half, but it was Bayern who went ahead and took a lead into the break through a penalty from Thomas Muller.
In the second half Bayern went 3-0 ahead with a Mario Gomez brace but, with the game looking won, Martin Harnik grabbed two of his own to pull Stuttgart back to within one goal.
However, Bayern were able to cling on to win the treble for departing coach Jupp Heynckes.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary.
Hello all and thanks for joining me for the finale of the German football season - the DFB-Pokal final.
All that stands between Bayern Munich and a treble in Jupp Heynckes's last season in charge is Stuttgart. The underdogs will have nothing to lose, so they could well have a say still.
It will be icing on the cake for the Bavarians - after all, they have won the two big ones. However, you can be sure that they'll be more than motivated for this. If they lose it won't be a disaster, but it will hurt as this is a group of players that wants to win everything going.
Before I go into how the sides got here, I have the team news in. Spoiler: Mario Gomez starts for Bayern.
BAYERN XI: Neuer; Lahm, Van Buyten, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Gomez
STUTTGART XI: Ulreich; Rudiger, Niedermeier, Tasci, Molinaro; Gentner, Boka; Harnik, Maxim, Traore; Ibisevic
So as mentioned, Gomez is given the nod over Mario Mandzukic, who has been the ever-present striker for Bayern this season. Otherwise it's largely full-strength, except perhaps for the presence of Daniel van Buyten at centre-back.
For Stuttgart, it's pretty much as expected. Vedad Ibisevic has the tendency to blow hot and cold, but he does have the ability up front to worry Bayern. The key for them tonight will be how effective the supporting cast of Martin Harnik Ibrahima Traore and Alexandru Maxim are.
Remember, they only have arguably the best team in world football standing in their way. Bayern's season has gone from great to brilliant as they timed their form to perfection towards the end of the season. Of course, it would have meant nothing without trophies, but they wrapped up the Bundesliga early and importantly remained on form to win the Champions League last weekend.
I think the speed with which they wrapped up the Bundesliga was vital. With a couple of months of the season still remaining they were crowned champions. After that, Heynckes named consistently strong teams in the league, which kept up their sharpness and allowed their football to flow without pressure.
Stuttgart, in truth, have struggled for much of the season. The Europa League certainly took its toll on Bruno Labbadia's players and the league form suffered. They went out in the knockout stages to Lazio, and were unable to get close enough to qualify again. They finished 12th, which has to go down as an underachievement for some of the players they have.
To get to this stage Bayern have beaten Jahn Regensburg and Kaiserslautern - both 4-0. They then got past Augsburg 2-0, a game in which Frank Ribery was sent off. In the quarters they scraped past Borussia Dortmund 1-0 and then thrashed Wolfsburg 6-1 in the last round - Gomez hitting a hat-trick after coming off the bench.
Stuttgart started with a 5-0 win against lowly SV Falkensee-Finkenkrug. They then beat 2. Bundesliga side St. Pauli 3-0 before beating Cologne of the same league 2-1. Then came 2-0 against Bochum and what was at the time an unlikely 2-1 win over high-flying Freiburg. The odds are heavily stacked against them this time.
Speaking of the odds, here's just how big an ask it is for Stuttgart. The best you can find on Bayern is 1/5 while Stutgart are as far back as 14/1 in places, although 12/1 is about the average. A draw after 90 minutes is 6/1, but even that looks a stretch if you ask me.
PREDICTION: I'd love to say I think this will be close, what with it being a final... but no, I can't see that. This prediction is just guessing how many Bayern will win by - I'll go for a conservative 3-0.
The handshakes and on-field niceties are almost done with. Let's get to the action!
KICKOFF: Bayern get us underway in Berlin.
It's a surprising long-ball start from Bayern, with Alaba humping long for Gomez, but Stuttgart cut it out. That's more like it from Munich, they're all starting to get a touch now.
CLOSE! How did that not go in? Arjen Robben plays a one-two with Ribery and his attempted cross as somehow turned behind by Sven Ulreich. I don't think he went for goal, but it nearly went in either way.
A driving run from Thomas Muller down the right there, but he runs it out of play. Stuttgart are now on the ball for the first time, but Rudiger's ball is cut out by Lahm. Stuttgart come again but Maxim's ball to Boka is too long.
Lahm, Ribery and Schweinsteiger try to work something down the right, but in the end the Frenchman's cross-field ball goes out of play. It's not the Bayern we've become used to so far.
CLOSE! The ball is put in from the right by Rudiger and Maxim, who has some space in the middle, connects with an acrobatic volley but puts it just wide.
We've seen nothing of either striker as yet. Gomez hasn't been involved with Bayern's play this far and Ibisevic is a bit isolated. That chance just then shows that Bayern could well miss Dante tonight, who has been released for Brazil duty.
A good move from Bayern there, as Robben drives forward from the right before releasing Ribery down the left. His cross is put behind for a corner, which is absolutely terrible from the Frenchman and is cut out by Boka who was in acres.
Ibisevic is nearly gifted the ball by Lahm, but Alaba wraps up well to find Neuer. Straight up the other end come Bayern and Muller finds Ribery, who plays in Robben and his cross is just turned wide by Gomez under pressure from Niedermeier.
Stuttgart are really in this and their fans are incredibly loud. They earn a corner, but it's crossed straight to the grateful arms of Neuer, who puts it straight out of touch with his kick. Ribery tries to come forward again but Niedermeier is across well to tackle. They're solid at the back at the moment, Stuttgart.
Stuttgart get another corner as Harnik's cross is deflected behind. This time Maxim takes and the delivery is better, but Tasci's header is well over the bar.
Martinez is the furthest man forward and gets flagged offside as Bayern continue to struggle with their flow. At the other end Alaba concedes another corner, which Maxim goes across to take. Nothing comes from it but Ribery runs it out of play and Stuttgart are back on the ball.
CLOSE! How are Stuttgart not ahead?! From a free kick the ball is headed goalwards by Harnik, with Neuer pushing it away. The goalkeeper is alert to get across to his post to stop a certain goal with a tap-in. The first save could have been better, perhaps, but he made up for it with the brave second effort.
Still Stuttgart press. Gentner crosses from the left and Boka tries to find some space in the the box, but his cross is headed clear and Bayern survive. There's only one side that looks likely to score at the moment.
Bayern finally get into the Stuttgart box again as Gomez turns and looks for Robben behind him, but the Dutchman is crowded out by several white shirts. Stuttgart win another corner, but again can't test Neuer from it.
SAVE! Ulreich stays big to deny Alaba as Bayern countered at pace. He's played in by Ribery on the left and tries to poke it past the keeper, but Ulreich gets a hand on it with his arms by his side. Big chance that, and Bayern will wish that had fallen to any of the attacking players they have.
Harnik is deemed to have fouled Alaba as he tried to get in behind the defender. It's a little soft, perhaps, but the defender will get that nine out of 10 times.
Robben fires a right-footed half-volley towards goal, but there are a couple of players to block it before it gets to Ulreich. That's been the story of this half so far, Labbadia's plan has been to frustrate Bayern and they have certainly done that.
The champions are just about getting on top of this now. They have a spell of possession in the middle, but it still looks somewhat lacking in sharpness when they get near the Stuttgart box. Stuttgart look to break through Traore down the left, but the ball runs out of play - even he is not quick enough to chase it.
PENALTY TO BAYERN!
GOAL! Bayern 1-0 Stuttgart (Thomas Muller)
Traore is booked for his troubles, and really it was poor. Lahm had burst into the box from deep and had the beating of Traore, but the winger leaned across to bring him down just inside the box. Muller, cool as you like, steps up to roll it into the bottom left corner having sent Ulreich the wrong way.
It's harsh on Stuttgart, who would be justified in thinking they could be ahead. But it's really sloppy from Traore and now Bayern have their noses in front it will be incredibly hard for Stuttgart to get back in it.
Bayern are still not controlling the game, but they are probably still just about on top. We've seen nothing of Neuer since his side went ahead.
Alaba is charging forward at every opportunity. This time only a fine tackle from Rudiger stops him pulling the trigger in the box.
It doesn't look as though there will be any more goals this half. It looks like both teams are happy to regroup at 1-0. In truth, it's been largely disjointed, particularly from Bayern, but one mistake or one moment of brilliance is sometimes all it takes.
CHANCE! What a turn in the box from Gomez! He's played in by Robben, touches it into space and his shot just gets a deflection wide.
HALF-TIME: Bayern 1-0 Stuttgart
Well, it's been far from textbook Bayern but they find themselves a goal to the good at the half. Before the goal Stuttgart looked most likely to score, but a mistake from Traore to bring down Lahm is enough for Bayern to put one foot on the road to the treble.
Stuttgart had the plan to make it tough for Bayern and it certainly has been, but there has also been a strong element of sluggishness. That means that Stuttgart are far from out of this.
It's hard to pick a standout player, but it has probably been Alaba who has been full of running from left-back. With better finishing he might have put Bayern ahead before they did score, but he has been a vital outlet and a good link with both Martinez and Ribery.
Before the Bayern goal Neuer was also called into action to make a double save. The first, a header from Harnik, I'm not sure he knew a lot about, but he got back across his line to save a certain goal.
The players have come down the escalator (that's right) and are on the pitch awaiting the second half.
KICKOFF: Stuttgart get us back underway here.
The tricky Maxim draws an early foul from Schweinsteiger, but from the deep free kick Muller heads away. It comes back to Maxim and Boateng this time heads away.
GOAL! Bayern 2-0 Stuttgart (Mario Gomez)
Boateng's long ball from the back is directed to Robben, who finds Lahm on the overlap. The skipper's cross is deflected and goes in off Gomez's knee. That is probably that now.
BOOKING! Schweinsteiger is booked for bringing down Boka. He probably got a touch on the ball but went through Boka to get it, fair booking.
Bayern are now comfortably in control of the ball and are looking to slow it down to their pace. Not that it was frenetic before, mind.
There's very little threat from the men in white now. It looks as though Bayern have an extra player in the pitch with the space they manage to create and, while they haven't had another chance, they look most likely by far to score again.
Robben is given offside somewhat harshly as he latched on to a Lahm ball over the top. Stuttgart pretty much give the ball straight back, though, as within a few seconds the ball is back with Neuer. It's good of Bayern to give him a touch to keep him warm.
Stuttgart have resorted to shots from 20, no 30, no 35, yards as Boka drives one but it's deflected right into the path of Neuer. Harnik wins a free kick in a decent position just to the left of centre about 40 yards out.
However, Maxim's ball is straight to the Bayern keeper. From it Bayern almost create a world-class goal with Robben playing in Gomez, but the striker's backheel cannot find a teammate - lovely counter.
GOAL! Bayern 3-0 Stuttgart (Mario Gomez)
Game, set and match. Lahm sets Muller away down the right and of course Gomez is lurking in the middle, ahead of his man, to turn the low cross into the net for his second. Typical Bayern goal that, as Gomez makes way for Mario Mandzukic - no hat-trick for him, then.
Mandzukic almost grabs an immediate goal but his header from the six-yard box is kept out by Ulreich, then Ribery has a shot deflected behind. They want more, Bayern.
The Bayern fans are loving it, Jupp Heynckes is loving it. This will be a procession until full time, I think, and then an actual procession at the whistle. Alaba is forward again looking for the goal he deserves, but he's flagged offside.
Gotoku Sakai is on for Cristian Molinaro and Shinji Okazaki for Alexandru Maxim, but they've had little impact so far.
Ribery breaks through and finds Muller to his right, but Mandzukic gets in the way of his drilled ball that was meant for Robben who was in acres on the left of the box.
GOAL! Bayern 3-1 Stuttgart (Martin Harnik)
Well, that's come from nowhere at all! The usual right-back Sakai swings in a deep cross that finds Harnik at the far post, who fair powers a header into the opposite corner. A great goal, but there aren't many celebrations on the pitch or in the stands.
CHANCE! It doesn't look like Ribery will get the goal he clearly desperately wants. He cuts in from the right but his low shot is comfortably saved by Ulreich down low. What a chance at the other end! Stuttgart break with Harnik heavily involved, and his cross in to Okazaki is turned right into Neuer's gloves by the Japanese!
STUTTGART SUB: Trore makes way for Cacau.
Stuttgart try to work a free kick from the training ground, but Rudiger at the far post cannot keep it in play. Time is running out fast for them.
Stuttgart want a free kick for handball against Boateng. It definitely hit his arm, which was in front of his body. I've definitely seen them given, but the ball was drilled at him so he had little chance to get out of the way.
GOAL! Bayern 3-2 Stuttgart (Martin Harnik)
Hang on just a minute! A shot from distance from Boka crashes against the post and comes back to Harnik. He shoots and it's saved by Neuer, but then fires the rebound low and hard into the net to give Stuttgart a fighting chance! What a game this is becoming.
BAYERN SUB: Anatoliy Tymoshchuk comes on for Robben in a very defensive move from Heynckes!
Bayern have a free kick just outside the box with Boka bringing down Lahm from behind.
SAVE: Boka was booked for that last challenge, by the way. Schweinsteiger's strike hits the wall and falls to Muller, but Bayern can't work anything. They're worried and are already wasting time in the corner before Ulreich saves from Mandzukic following a low Muller cross.
Boka is lucky to escape red as he tackles Boateng very late, but the free kick had already been given for a foul the other way!
BAYERN SUB: Xherdan Shaqiri is coming on for the livel Ribery. It's more of a time-wasting change, as four minutes are indicated to be added on.
BOOKING: Ibisevic is booked, presumably for dissent - complaining that Bayern took too long over the change.
CHANCE! Alaba just about manages to hack away a deep cross, but the ball comes right back into the Bayern half via Ulreich. The keeper comes up for a free kick, which is taken by Sakai and Okazaki meets it but is facing away from goal and heads wide! He was wide open!
BOOKING: Mandzukic is booked this time, but I'm not sure why. Stuttgart get a final chance through Okazaki but Neuer makes the save and that must be it.
FULL-TIME: Bayern 3-2 Stuttgart! BAYERN WIN THE TREBLE!
It's jubilation for Bayern, who take their third trophy of the season. Stuttgart are devastated because they came so close after being 3-0 down. It was a really good final and the best team just about got it.
That wraps up the German season, then. Thanks for joining us this year for our coverage and we will be back as soon as the action kicks off in 2013-14. Goodnight all.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
