In Germany, Borussia Dortmund is one win away from pulling off a remarkable double. This Saturday, they will welcome Holstein Kiel to the Volksparkstadion in the exciting Bundesliga season’s final matchday. The team sits in fifth place with 54 points. One more win would finish their record-equaling turnaround and might just land them a prized place in next season’s Champions League group phase.
Dortmund’s path this season has been spectacular to say the least. Having found themselves languishing in 11th place with eight games to play, they’ve stormed back into playoff contention. The club hasn’t seen a comeback as incredible as that one since the 1993/94 season. They catapulted from 11th to fourth with the same number of matches left. This time, they have won six of their last seven league matches, including a significant 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last week.
2nd place Borussia Dortmund are readying themselves for the big showdown. They’ll require a win in their game against the already relegated Holstein Kiel to increase their chances of qualifying in the top four. Even a tight 1-0 win would do it. Freiburg, now fourth on 57 points, need to lose to Eintracht Frankfurt third, also on 57, in order to not win the league. If Dortmund were to win by three goals or more, they would ensure themselves a top four finish no matter what happens with Freiburg.
That’s why Axel Hellmann, one of the key figures running the club, gets it — he knows what’s at stake. He knows what is at stake for the next game.
“I know there is a lot, a lot at stake,” – Axel Hellmann
He continued, “What an achievement though – we had qualified for the Europa League anyways! Now we are able to finish this terrific season with a glimmer of hope of qualifying for the Champions League!”
The ramifications of this fixture go far beyond just who makes it to the Champions League. If Borussia Dortmund comes fourth, then they equal their own record for the largest-ever comeback. That accomplishment would occur during the last eight matchdays of the season.
Each point is key in their efforts to secure a return to European football. It’s fair to conclude that Dortmund’s players and fans are looking forward to Saturday’s final whistle. The team has shown astonishing heart and fight these last months of the season. It’s clear that they are ready to make the most of this opportunity!
Leave a Reply