2023-05-26 10:47:25
For its 60th anniversary, the Bundesliga again offers an uncertain final on Saturday, with Borussia Dortmund two points ahead of Bayern Munich, who hope to repeat the 2000 heist.
In May 2000, 2001 and 2002, the last day of the German championship gave rise to scenarios of madness, suspense until the last seconds and changes of leader during the two hours of football.
2000: Leverkusen’s unlikely setback at Unterhaching
In 2000, Michael Ballack’s Bayer Leverkusen held off at Bayern Munich. The “Werkself”, the “eleven of the factory”, seize the lead of the Bundesliga on the 30th day thanks to their victory against Arminia Bielefeld and the defeat of Bayern against the Munich rival 1860. Fort four consecutive successes, Leverkusen is in a strong position before the last day to win the first title of the club founded in 1904 by the chemist Bayer, with three points ahead of Bayern, but an unfavorable overall goal difference.
For his trip to the lawn of Unterhaching, on the southern outskirts of Munich, a draw is enough against the promoted Bavarian, who has already ensured his maintenance. But nothing goes as planned. Ballack scored against his side in the 20th minute, Markus Oberleitner doubled the lead, and Unterhaching won 2-0. Bayern won 3-1 against Werder Bremen, and took the league title. A “Thank you Unterhaching” banner is unfurled from the balcony of Munich’s City Hall overlooking Marienplatz for the title celebrations.
2001: four minutes of madness
Champions in 2000, Bayern find themselves in exactly the same situation as Bayer Leverkusen in the spring of 2001: leader before the last day with a three-point lead but an unfavorable goal difference over Schalke, the Munich residents need a point to Hamburg to secure the 17th title.
Bayern’s rival this season, Schalke receives … Unterhaching in Gelsenkirchen for the last day. Led 2-0 then 3-2, Schalke overturned the match and won 5-3 in their Parkstadion. Then come four minutes of pure madness.
400 kilometers to the north, Hamburg opened the scoring in the 90th minute. The rumor of a defeat for Bayern spreads to Gelsenkirchen, the supporters invade the lawn after the final whistle, the players congratulate each other, convinced of the coronation. The giant screen of the Parkstadion then broadcast live images from the Hamburg Volksparkstadion, the match is not over. Bayern get an indirect free kick in Hamburg’s penalty area. Defender Patrick Andersson finds a mouse hole to score and snatch the title from Schalke, who have remained the “champion of hearts” this season.
2002: further disappointment for Leverkusen
In the spring of 2002, Bayer Leverkusen was omnipresent, both nationally and continentally. European football gets to know the “Werkself” which climbs to the final of the Champions League by eliminating Liverpool in the quarters and Manchester United in the semis. Leader of the Bundesliga since the 24th day, Leverkusen squandered a 5-point lead over Borussia Dortmund on the evening of the 31st day, losing at home against Werder Bremen and in Nuremberg. And yields for a point the chair of leader in Borussia.
On the final matchday, Dortmund trailed Bremen, while Leverkusen quickly led against Hertha Berlin. For more than an hour between the 10th and 74th minute, Bayer believed in the title, but Borussia equalized through Jan Koller, then won thanks to Ewerthon. Two other disappointments follow in less than two weeks for Michael Ballack’s teammates: at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, they lose the German Cup against Schalke and at Hampden Park in Glasgow, they give in to Real Madrid, with the legendary recovery volley from Zidane.
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