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Recently crowned DFB Pokal champions will take on Bayer Leverkusen in the final matchday of the Bundesliga. Dortmund have already secured Champions League football for themselves next year, while The Company’s Eleven have locked their berth in the UEL group stage.
A brace each from Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho ensured that Borussia would end their season with silverware. They beat RB Leipzig in the DFB Pokal cup final, with the teenage pair playing a key role.
Days later, more joy followed. A 3-1 win over Mainz secured their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League – a prospect which looked unlikely when Terzic took over from Lucien Favre midway through the season. Nevertheless, Dortmund managed to make up the seven-point gap between themselves and Eintracht Frankfurt, bumping the latter out of the top four spots.
Bayer sacked their manager while the season was still running. The perennial top four contenders decided that they had had enough of Peter Bosz, and he was imminently replaced by Hannes Wolf. The German U18 coach was brought in on an interim basis, and Leverkusen have since confirmed that Gerardo Seoane, who currently manages Swiss side Young Boys, will take over before the start of next season.
Hence, neither side has anything left to play for ahead of this match. It could provide coaches with a chance to field some of the younger players, thus allowing them to get a taste of senior football. On the other hand, the game could also be used as a farewell match for some of the players who will be leaving either side at the end of the season. Lukasz Piszczek will close his Dortmund chapter once the season is over, as well as Bayer’s Bender brothers – Lars and Sven.
Key Players
Throughout the past month, Borussia Dortmund have reiterated their stance that Erling Haaland is not for sale this summer. The club is willing to let go of the Norwegian for a considerably lower price in 2022 – via a release clause – but doesn’t want to sell him this summer. One can see sense in their stubbornness, given that goalscorers like Haaland are hard to find. The Norway international is certainly a special player and has shown as much in his first full season at the club by scoring 39 times in 40 outings.
This might be the last time we get to see Jadon Sancho wearing the yellow and black kit. While they were against selling the Englishman last summer, several rumors claim that their stance has softened since. That means that Sancho could leave the club in the upcoming transfer window; the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in signing him. His numbers reveal why: Sancho has scored 16 times this season and provided 21 assists.
The Jamaican winger’s demand has fallen over the last couple of years. Nonetheless, Leon Bailey has used this season to propel his stats up, and consequently, the number of clubs willing to buy him have increased. The Bayer star has scored 15 goals across all competitions this season and supplied his teammates with 11 assists. Eighteen of his 26 goal contributions have come in the league, despite Leverkusen’s poor season.
Leverkusen have managed to replace Kai Havertz almost seamlessly, with youngster Florian Wirtz taking his place in the team this season. The club planned in that regard, by signing Wirtz from Koln six months before they sold Havertz on for a club-record fee. The teenager has scored eight goals this season and has had a hand in eight assists. He was rewarded for his performances by Germany head coach Joachim Low, who called him up to the National Team.
Prediction
Borussia are a team in form. Terzic’s side has won seven straight games across all competitions – a run which helped them win the DFB Pokal and displace Eintracht Frankfurt in the top four. Not since their days under Thomas Tuchel has the German giant managed a run as remarkable as this. They are the favorites heading into their final match of the season against Bayer Leverkusen – and rightly so.
Conversely, Leverkusen have had a difficult season. Despite sacking the manager midway through it, they have still managed to secure Europa League football for next season. They will be looking to finish their campaign on a positive note, but that is easier said than done. Not only do Dortmund have the form ahead of their meeting, but they also have the history. Beating them would not be easy, especially with the likes of Haaland and Sancho in frightening form.
