Bayern one win away
April 6, 2013
The race for this season's Bundesliga title may not have been close, but it certainly was quick. Dortmund's dreams of three in a row disintegrated, and Bayern Munich can mathematically secure the title later on Saturday with a win in Frankfurt.
Similarly, should Borussia Dortmund fail to beat Augsburg in their afternoon match, Bayern would win the title whatever the result against Armin Veh's Eintracht.
As well as restoring honor after two years of Dortmund domination, Bayern look set to rip the Bundesliga record book to shreds this season in the most emphatic campaign in the Bundesliga's 50-year history.
Few German language articles ever refrain from calling Bayern Munich the "Rekordmeister" or "record champions" - i.e. the most successful club in the country's history. Never before has that label been so apt.
Record champs
For starters, Saturday's triumph would be the quickest ever. Bayern would wrap the league up with six games to spare; the previous record - also set by the Bavarians in their 1972/3 and 2002/3 campaigns - was to seal the deal with four games still to play.
Bayern also look set to score more league points than ever before, a record set by Dortmund last season when they bagged 82 points. Jupp Heynckes' side have 72 going into the game against Frankfurt, with another 21 theoretically available.
In the 1971/2 season, Bayern smashed in 101 goals in 34 games. This record looked like a tough nut to crack, at least until Bayern fired nine goals past Hamburg last Saturday. The Marios of Mandzukic and Gomez, along with their other predatory companions, need to find another 24 goals in 7 matches to beat the record - they are currently just behind the required quota.
At the other end, Dante, Philipp Lahm, David Alaba and friends have a chance at notching up the best defensive season in Bundesliga history. Bayern have currently conceded 13 goals in 27 games; putting them comfortably on course to beat their own 2007/8 season record of 21 conceded in 34 games.
A different league
One record is already written into the books. Bayern have won 12 of their 13 away games so far this season, the previous record for away wins in a single season (set by several teams in various campaigns) stood at 11. Theoretically, Bayern could yet win 16. Furthermore, Bayern could yet go undefeated away from home this season - their only defeat so far was at home to Leverkusen in October - a feat that would be unprecedented in the Bundesliga.
Goal difference is another mountain that the Bavarians have effectively scaled ahead of time. The best ever end-of-season goal difference was the +64 that Bayern secured in the 72/73 campaign; Bayern's present-day golden generation currently has a goal difference of +65. They could theoretically drop back below the winning post, of course, but it's not an easy scenario to envisage.
There are more records up for grabs, but another of note is very simple: the most wins in a season. In 1972/3, Bayern won 25 games, a feat equaled by Dortmund last time out. With seven games remaining, Bayern have 23 victories in the books.
Dominance from depth
With a Champions League return leg against Juventus on the cards midweek, celebrations might be kept to a minimum. German mass-circulation paper Bild has even reported that the famed beer showers courtesy of Bayern sponsor and wheat beer giant Paulaner might not take place. That is, Bild speculated, unless any Bayern lads smuggle some in themselves.
Eying the Juventus away leg, Heynckes might also opt not to field his strongest 11 against Frankfurt - something that might have disconcerted Bayern fans not 18 months ago.
But over the past year, the Bavarians added depth to a squad that never lacked class. Heynckes' predecessor Louis van Gaal made no secret of his preference for a slim-line squad of players, but under Heynckes, Bayern have built a bench so strong that it can smash nine goals past Rene Adler in the Hamburg goal.
None of the core players like Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Müller, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Toni Kroos, Mario Gomez, David Alaba have left, while the management on Säbener Strasse have strengthened virtually every area of the team.
Brazilian Dante has been ever-present in the center of defense, earning his first ever Brazil cap as a result. Croatian international Mario Mandzukic has helped the team's cause with 15 goals in the Bundesliga alone. Even big-money signing Javi Martinez, a source of some skepticism at first, has established himself as a clear first choice alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger in holding midfield. Xherdan Shaqiri has shown glimpses of promise and has time on his side aged 21. Veteran Claudio Pizarro, meanwhile, has barely had a sniff of action given the form of Mandzukic up front - yet that didn't stop him hitting four last weekend in a rare start against Hamburg.
Incoming Spanish supercoach Josep Guardiola is set to inherit a more than competent cabal of kickers when he takes over Heynckes' job. However, he will also be following perhaps the toughest act in the history of German football.