The footballing world is in all readiness for the most dramatic Bundesliga finale in more than a decade with Borussia fans desperate to see the team win their first league title in 11 years on Saturday.
For the first time since 2019, when BVB came 2 points short of the current defending champions, we are witnessing a riveting photo finish to the title race.
Trophy each season since 2011, no one argues it has been the most dominant streak in the history of football in Europe. More than a decade, and with a chance of extending it further. Fair to say, it is not just Borussia Dortmund fans who are praying for a successful underdog story.
Bayern Munich’s slip-up against RB Leipzig has presented Edin Terzic’s team with their best opportunity to be crowned German league champions for the first time since 2012.
Dortmund then went on to beat Augsburg 3-1 the following afternoon, meaning they go into Saturday’s gripping finale two points clear at the peak.
All of Bayern’s shortcomings this season, whether under Nagelsmann or Tuchel’s watch, would lead to Bayern’s first season since 2012 without glory.
What’s actually at Stake?
Table toppers’ two-point lead over Bayern means that their Fate lies in their hands yet again. Match or better the Bavarians’ result this weekend, would mean the Yellow and Blacks would come out victorious in this title race and would be deemed as the Meisterschale holders till the next season.
Bayern, meanwhile, travels to Cologne in their last game of the season, where any drop of points by them would crown Borussia the champions.
The situation, however, is even more grueling for FC Bayern as even after a win against Koln, they would be hoping Mainz have restricted Dortmund to at least a draw.
Although BVB enters the final matchday with a solid advantage, an inferior goal difference means anything less than a victory may not be enough to get over the line.
Albeit mid-table FC Koln have nothing concrete to play for, they have minute added incentive to stop Bayern Munich from winning the German title on Saturday – as they will reportedly take home a six-figure bonus if Borussia Dortmund is crowned champions.
This is due to the transfer clause when they sold French striker Anthony Modeste to Dortmund last summer, which entitled them to a hefty fee if the club went on to win the title.
Moreover, Köln also plans to announce each one of Dortmund’s goals against Mainz in their stadium so that fans can celebrate them, respecting the fanbases’ years spanning friendship.
Also Read: Beyond the Checkered Flag: Unleashing Grandeur at the Monaco Grand Prix 2023
With such mutual interest in Dortmund finishing strong, one can expect that Köln would come up with a strong fight against Bayern.
A quick glance at the rest of the matches would excite us further for Saturday. With the 4th Champions League spot still up for grabs, Union Berlin and Freiburg would have to better each of their opponent’s results to get a ticket to Europe’s most exciting football venture.
What does Matchday 34 have in Store for us?
BVB is undoubtedly the favorite to take the title now, and it seems a bit like 2002 to me. That year, Dortmund caught long-time leaders Bayer Leverkusen on the penultimate matchday, when the latter lost in Nürnberg and Dortmund won in Hamburg and eventually won against Werder Bremen on the final day, finishing one point above Leverkusen.
Saturday is going to be all about pure emotion. “My players are very well paid and can buy a new house or a new car, but they can’t buy moments like this: a chance to become Bundesliga champions in front of their own fans” Aptly Summed up by Edin Terzic hopes to be the next Dortmund manager to guide the club to its first Bundesliga title since Klopp.
Bayern would be banking on their ‘Mia San Mia‘ mentality. The will to complete success that has allowed them to turn the tides so often. “Mia san Mia stands for the complete will to succeed. That’s how we manage to turn games round so often. There’s no middle ground, only wins,” explained Mr. Bayern Thomas Müller of the club’s ‘We are who we are’ motto.
No other top league has been able to offer this level of uncertainty and unpredictability. Who would have thought the competition popularised with the chants of the Farmers would present a title race like this.
Read More:
