Tensions mount ... Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund staff exchange 'pleasantries'. Source: Martin Meissner / AP
Relations between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund continued to sour ahead of the Champions League final on May 25 as Saturday's dress rehearsal in the Bundesliga was marred by a dismissal and a pitch side argument.
Dortmund hosted Bayern at Signal Iduna Park in a 1-1 draw and the German rivals next meet in Wembley's Champions League decider, but pithy comments and open hostility from both sides means there is little love lost.
Bayern's right-back Rafinha was sent off after 65 minutes in Dortmund for elbowing Borussia midfielder Jakub 'Kuba' Blaszczykowski in the face which sparked an angry exchange between the benches.
Munich's director of sport Matthias Sammer shouted at Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp to leave Rafinha alone after he remonstrated with the Brazilian who poked Kuba in the face as he walked off the pitch and the pair squared up.
"I wanted to draw a line under the matter - excluding expletives,'' said Klopp after him and Sammer were ordered to shake hands by referee Peter Gagelmann.
Sammer later played down the incident, but Klopp admitted tensions are running high: ``the game had a fair bit of spice in it, despite apparently having been of little importance''.
Both sides rested their stars -- Dortmund fielded six of the side likely to feature at Wembley, Munich only four -- but it was still a tension affair.
"No one came here thinking it would be a friendly,'' added Klopp.
"It's well known we aren't happy about the way a few things have gone.''
A host of comments have been exchanged and president Uli Hoeness has openly admitted Bayern were 'annoyed' when Borussia won the league and cup double last year.
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