One round of games to go and three teams are still left in the hunt. The Bundesliga has been by far and away the most exciting of Europe’s top leagues in 2008/09. More goals, higher attendances, and realistic title challenges from 5 or 6 teams.
Hamburg have fallen to the wayside, along with Hoffenheim and Dortmund. That leaves 4, Wolfsburg who top the table on 66 points, Bayern Munich and Stuttgart chasing on 64, and Hertha Berlin on 63, who need to overturn a 24 goal difference deficit to win the league this year. Given that they’ve only scored 48 to Wolfsburg’s 75 this season, it looks beyond them.
The last round of fixtures has thrown up two potential classics then to decide the league. Bayern Munich play host to Stuttgart, with the winners potentially winning the league as well as the game. Goal happy Wolfsburg are at home to one of the most attacking minded teams in the league in Werder Bremen. Thomas Schaaf’s teams only play one way, they are sure to attack Wolfsburg who need to win to ensure the title. That could and should be a very open game.
The Bayern and Stuttgart game is so delicately poised too. Both teams need a win, which should guarantee a good game. Stuttgart are the form team in the league at the moment, unbeaten in 9 and with 16 from 18 points. They seem to have come from nowhere to challenge, with recent wins away to Schalke and at home to Wolfsburg. Mario Gomez has recovered his form and will be hoping for more against Bayern.
Bayern have looked shaky all season, yet they are still there at the end. Klinsmann has already paid the price for an embarrassing defeat to Barcelona, and Borussia Mönchengladbach legend Jupp Heynckes has taken charge for the last few games. He has already won the Bundesliga twice as the coach of Bayern Munich, and the Champions League with Real Madrid, he has the pedigree. The team has been largely disappointing though, but who would bet against the likes of Ribery and Toni turning it on in the season finale.
If Hertha win their last game, away to relegation threatened Karlsruhe, they could leapfrog the losers and nab the final Champions League place. Only the top 3 qualify in Germany. If Bayern and Stuttgart draw, Berlin could come second and qualify automatically for the group stages, some way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
A victory for attacking football would see Wolfsburg claim the league title for the first time in their history. They have been irresistible at times with Bosnian striker Edin Džeko having found the form of his life, scoring 9 times in the last 4 games. Džeko and Wolfsburg’s other striker, Brazilian Grafite, lead the scoring charts on 25 and 26 goals respectively.
Arguably their most influential player however, has been the German born Bosnian international midfielder Zvjezdan Misimović. He has been credited with 19 assists so far this season, and he looks dangerous every time he has the ball. While not the quickest, his passing and crossing have been nothing short of spectacular. A true trequartista, though he can also play wide left, he could be well sought after in the summer.
Bremen are no pushovers though, as their ascent to the UEFA Cup Final has proven. With players like Diego, Frings, Pizarro, and the exciting young mulletted playmaker Mesut Özil they are frighteningly good going forward at times. That both teams look far more comfortable with the ball should make for an exciting end to end affair.
So who will win? Wolfsburg deserve their moment in my opinion, and they must be favourites. As this is the Bundesliga though, anything can and probably will happen.
Written by Steve Atkinson
