Bayern primed for perfect tonic
Friday, May 2, 2008
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Just days after a UEFA Cup humbling away to FC Zenit St. Petersburg, FC Bayern München may get a perfect pick-me-up by winning the Bundesliga this weekend.
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Just days after their 4-0 UEFA Cup semi-final humbling against FC Zenit St. Petersburg, FC Bayern München's players can receive the perfect pick-me-up by claiming the Bundesliga title this weekend.
Nearest challengers
Leading Werder Bremen and FC Schalke 04 by 12 points with four matches to play, Bayern face VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday safe in the knowledge that either a win or a draw would secure the championship. However, they could even be confirmed as champions before kicking a ball if both their pursuers drop points in their games a day earlier.
Cup success
Regardless of if and when Ottmar Hitzfeld's team are celebrating, winning a domestic treble – the Bavarian club added the German Cup on 19 April to their League Cup success last July – would help ease the anguish of missing out on a UEFA Cup final in Manchester.
'Very satisfied'
"That [defeat against Zenit] can't cloud the situation," said Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness. "I am very satisfied with the season. I really have to pay the team a huge compliment. In my opinion we have achieved all of our goals. Not many teams win three trophies in a season. I was sad for about 20 minutes but that's all over with now."
Departing duo
A third domestic honour would be a fitting way to say goodbye to Hitzfeld and long-serving goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who will both leave at the end of this campaign. Hitzfeld, presiding over his 250th Bayern match at Wolfsburg, will take over as Switzerland coach after UEFA EURO 2008™, while Kahn's retirement will bring down the curtain on a 14-year association with the side. "What more could I want than to win the Bundesliga and German Cup in my final season," said Kahn, 38.
Wolfsburg hopes
Wolfsburg, however, are not planning to make up the numbers on Sunday. Lying in seventh, the team from Lower Saxony intend to bridge the four-point gap to Hamburger SV in fifth and claim a place in the UEFA Cup. Should Bayern be confirmed as champions on Saturday, then that task may well become a little easier.