Bundesliga final How will Bayer Leverkusen become champions? Is the bowl in the stadium? Everything you need to know about the title decision
Jonas Hofmann (M.) celebrates his goal in the Europa League game against West Ham United. In the Bundesliga he is almost certain of the title with Bayer Leverkusen.
© Lars Baron / Getty Images
Bayer Leverkusen will end FC Bayern’s eleven-year championship dominance this season and win the title for the first time in their history – perhaps as early as this weekend. We answer the most important questions about match day.
Bayer Leverkusen and coach Xabi Alonso can no longer take away their historic triumph – that is beyond question. The only thing that remains unclear is when Leverkusen will be mathematically confirmed as champions. It is already possible on this 29th matchday: If Alonso’s team wins against Werder Bremen on Sunday (from 5.30 p.m.), they will have achieved the title feat, regardless of the results of Bayern or VfB Stuttgart. With five games remaining, even if the competition wins, Bayer would be at least 16 points ahead in the table and would be through.
With these results, Bayer will also be champions on Sunday
It is also possible that Leverkusen will be crowned prematurely without any involvement of their own. That would be the case if both Bayern and VfB Stuttgart lost their games against 1. FC Köln and Eintracht Frankfurt. If one of the two plays a draw, one point is enough for Bayer to win the title.
When will the championship trophy be presented?
If Bayer Leverkusen are crowned champions on Sunday evening, the team will not be presented with a trophy. This only happens on the last match day. The original is then handed over to the new title holder. This season the DFB does not have to provide a duplicate for another stadium because realistically there is no second candidate for the title. Last season the original was in Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion on the final day of the match because BVB were league leaders. In Cologne, where FC Bayern played, there was a duplicate that was eventually used. BVB famously squandered the title with a 2-2 draw against Mainz, while Bayern won 2-1 in Cologne and became champions thanks to a better goal difference when there was a tie on points.
Is there public viewing in Leverkusen?
No. Fans who are not in the stadium or watching the game privately will have to go to bars that are broadcasting the potentially historic game. On Sunday, the authorities are expecting tens of thousands of fans around the stadium. The city will deploy more police and law enforcement officers than usual to ensure that everything goes peacefully and orderly.
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Will the team have a championship celebration?
No. If the team wins the championship, they will certainly celebrate extensively in the stadium. Many supporters will probably storm the stadium interior and celebrate their heroes. The team itself will not have a big party and will keep a low profile. Because the season isn’t over, the schedule is tight. Next Thursday, Bayer will fight in the second leg against West Ham United for a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League, there are also five match days left and a cup final against 1. FC Kaiserslautern is coming up. A championship celebration with fans in the city only takes place after the last Bundesliga matchday.
Sources: “DPA, “Sportschau”.
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