German Cup giant-killers Kaiserslautern aim to take a leaf out of Borussia Dortmund's book when they bid to claim a shock semi-final win at holders Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Dortmund stunned Bayern 3-0 at Munich's Allianz Arena in the league last Saturday as the European champions suffered their first Bundesliga defeat at home since October 2012.
Second division Kaiserslautern, who earned an upset quarter-final victory at Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen and beat Hertha Berlin in the second round, have not won in Munich for 17 years.
"'Kick it like Dortmund' and everything will be OK. If only it was that simple," said Kaiserslautern coach Kosta Runjaic when asked if Dortmund's victory in Munich gave cause for hope.
"We have to be realistic. Bayern are the best side in the world, they are powerful and the game is theirs to lose.
"We have only a minimal chance, but we will try to take it."
Despite Runjaic's heavy dose of realism, Bayern are vulnerable and winless in their last three league games, including defeats to Dortmund, Bavarian neighbours Augsburg and a 3-3 draw at home to Hoffenheim.
"We also represent a big club and we're not just going to Munich to swap shirts," added Runjaic.
"We won't approach the game with fear, but with fun and determination."
The 'Red Devils' of Kaiserslautern were drubbed 4-0 by Bayern in Munich in last season's second round of the cup when the Bavarian giants fielded a weakened side.
The semi-final tie also demonstrates the 'haves' and 'have nots' of Germany football.
The four million euros ($5.5 million) Kaiserslautern will earn from the German Football Association (DFB) for making the semi-finals will help reduce the club's loss for the season to under a million euros.
In contrast, Bayern can expect to make in excess of 50 million euros for reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they will face Real Madrid with the first leg in Spain on April 23.
"Thanks to the cup, we can limit the damage," said Kaiserslautern's chairman Stefan Kuntz.
Dortmund host VfL Wolfsburg in Tuesday's other semi-ahead of the final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on May 17.
Source: AFP
