Bayern back on their feet

FC Bayern München will hope to show they have come through a turbulent summer unscathed in Saturday's German League Cup final in Leipzig.

Learning curve
Bayern take on Werder Bremen in the tenth edition of the pre-season tournament which is contested by the top five teams and the German Cup winners from the previous campaign. The competition may not inspire much excitement among supporters - few will remember that FC Schalke 04 beat VfB Stuttgart to win last summer - but it has been a telling experience for Bayern.

Bayern departures
Since Felix Magath and company's title success in the spring, midfield linchpin Michael Ballack has joined English champions Chelsea FC, José Paolo Guerrero has signed for Hamburger SV, Jens Jeremies and Bixente Lizarazu have retired, and Brazilian Zé Roberto's contract has expired. Hence, the League Cup has given the world its first glance at the new-look Bayern.

Teething troubles
So far, English international Owen Hargreaves has been deployed in Ballack's central-midfield berth, while Belgium defender Daniel Van Buyten has deputised for injured centre-back Lucio. Germany striker Lukas Podolski, a summer capture from 1. FC Köln, has been given a prominent role but Bayern have yet to sparkle, scraping through to the final after ousting Schalke on penalties.

Bremen refreshed
Bremen will hope to exploit any lingering uncertainties. Having overcome northern arch-rivals Hamburg 2-1 in the semis, Bremen have shown promise going forward with Mohamed Zidan - freshly returned from a loan at 1. FSV Mainz 05 - linking up well with German international Miroslav Klose. The club's Paraguay frontman Nélson Valdez left for BV Borussia Dortmund.

Defensive contest
However, there is still fine-tuning to be done. Diego, newly arrived from FC Porto, may need time to settle into the role vacated by Johan Micoud's departure for FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Another newcomer, Clemens Fritz, will compete with Germany's Patrick Owomoyela for the full-back berth freed by Pierre Womé's switch to FC Internazionale Milano.

Greater reward
With a €2m prize for the winners, there is a fair incentive for Bayern and Bremen, but emerging with a cohesive squad at the end of the tournament would represent a much more valuable reward.