As the Premier League title found it’s inevitable place in Old Trafford’s trophy cabinet for the third successive season you could be forgiven for thinking that football is becoming extremely predictable. Fans of the Premier League will point to the fact that Liverpool pushed them mighty close but it’s nothing that Chelsea hadn’t done the previous two seasons. Look elsewhere and this predictability isn’t present.
Germany’s Bundesliga enters its final round of games this coming weekend with the title seemingly still wide open, three teams in with a chance of winning it. The even better point, which may be missed by the casual observer, is that no-one has looked like winning it, or wanting to win it, all season.
Hoffenheim became the autumn champions after confounding all the critics who predicted a struggle, but could only win two games since the winter break. This could be put down to the injury of Vedad Ibisevic, whose statistics for the first half of the season read 17 appearances, 18 goals, 7 assists.
Next to be pretenders for the title were Hertha Berlin, who have only recently dropped off the pace and only last week could still have won the title had it not been for Schalke’s stubborn back line. Andriy Voronin’s goals had powered Lucian Freund’s side to the top of the Bundesliga playing a style of football associated with German teams of the past.
Now we come to the three sides contesting the title. First up the side currently in third place VfB Stuttgart, managed by ex-Liverpool defender Markus Babbel. Stuttgart have crept up from the relative unknown to challenge for the title at the last hurdle, powered on by the striker who is as inept for Germany as he is effective for VfB, Mario Gomez. At only 23 years of age he has his best days ahead of him, but don’t be surprised if a big money offer comes in from Eastlands any time soon.
Bayern are up next, and are still in with a chance after what can only be described as a disastrous season for many at the club. After the Klinsmann debacle that threatened to see them only qualify for the Europa League, Jupp Heynckes has steadied the ship so that a win at home to Stuttgart could win them the title.
Last but not least there’s Wolfsburg. Departing boss Felix Magath has built a team that are exciting going forward, creative in midfield, and usually solid at the back. Led by the goals of Grafite and Edin Dzeko you can see why they are the people’s choice to win the title. Faced with a home game against Werder Bremen they should win the league, but the unpredictability factor could play a part, and Diego may want to sign off on a high in front of Werder’s travelling army of fans, in what could be his last game for the club.
My pick is Wolsburg, but don’t be surprised if either of the other two usurp them at the last in what promises to be a pulsating afternoon of football.
