[4] The winners also earned the right to play in the 2014 DFL-Supercup; as Bayern had already won the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund became their opponents regardless of the result due to them also finishing as league runners-up.

Dortmund, of the Bundesliga, began their cup campaign on 3 August 2013, with a 3–0 away win over fourth-tier SV Wilhelmshaven, with three goals in the last 20 minutes from Kevin Großkreutz, Marvin Ducksch and Robert Lewandowski.

[12] In the quarterfinals, Dortmund travelled to Eintracht Frankfurt, their first top-flight opponents of the campaign, winning by a late Aubameyang strike.

[14][15] Bayern Munich played their first-round match on 5 August 2013, away to fourth-tier BSV Schwarz-Weiß Rehden, Thomas Müller scoring a hat-trick in a 5–0 win with the other goals by Xherdan Shaqiri and Arjen Robben.

[16] In the second round, they faced fellow Bundesliga team Hannover 96 at home, winning 4–1 with a Müller double and goals by Claudio Pizarro and Franck Ribéry.

[21] The Saturday before the final, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger strained a tendon in his left knee against VfB Stuttgart, ruling him out.

[22] Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, who had agreed to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season, was excused from some training for the final as a precaution to injury.