Borussia Dortmund can make the “last step” of their miraculous race at the top four of Bundesliga with a big home victory against Holstein Kiel on Saturday. After a 2-0 defeat at RB Leipzig in March, Dortmund was 11th and did not look like the finish in the upper half of the table, not to mention the first four. But since then, Dortmund has won six and drawn one of their seven games, putting the chance to qualify for the Champions League thanks to a top four firmly in their hands before the last day of Bundesliga on Saturday.
With Eintracht Frankfurt, third playing, playing the fourth placed, Dortmund, fifth, has a simple assignment against Kiel, which has already been relegated.
Dortmund must win by three goals to guarantee a place in the first four, whatever the other results, although a two -goals’ victory is probably sufficient.
If Frankfurt defeated Freiburg or Draw, Dortmund will also be among the first four, provided they beat Kiel.
The qualification of the Champions League is crucial for Dortmund, which is based strongly on European income to compete.
The competition is missing, a year after reaching the final, would finish the short-term ambitions of Dortmund and perhaps lead to sales of players.
The excellent form will guarantee that Niko Kovac, the third Dortmund coach this season, remains in the canoe next year.
“Before, we depend on other results: now we have our own word. We want to win and we have to win. When we do it, then we have done a good job, but it will be damn difficult.
“It is a pleasant feeling of being up there,” said Kovac about the chances of Dortmund, but added “we have worked long enough to her, but now it is a question of taking the last step, but this last step can sometimes be the most difficult”.
The coach said that his team wanted to reach the first four and would not focus on what was going on in the parallel match.
“First of all, we have to win. We don’t need to turn our eyes to Freiburg – they need to turn our eyes.”
Kiel may have been relegated during their first season of Bundesliga, but already beat Dortmund 4-2 in January and will not want to sign the elite with a groan.
Kiel’s American left back, John Tolkin, told AFP on Thursday that his team will turn Dortmund’s hunger to their advantage.
“We also have a lot to play for pride, for our fans, and to prove to ourselves, we belong to this league.
“We are going to try to go there, to spoil the party a little. If we can be the spoilers and have a victory the last match of the season, that would be great.”
One to watch: Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund)
The heated striker Red Serhou Guirassy was the centerpiece of the superb race at the end of the season of Borussia Dortmund at a touching distance from the first four.
Guirassy has scored eight goals in his last five games in all competitions and has failed to find the net once in his last six championship games.
Whether in large victories or tight business, with the foot or his head, Guirassy’s reliability to find the net for Dortmund won the nickname the nickname the life insurance of the Kovac coach.
The Guinean, who arrived in Dortmund after scoring 28 goals in 28 championship games for Stuttgart last season, silenced those who called him a wonder of a season.
He has 33 goals all the competitions this season, putting him behind that Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Raphina among the players of the top five leagues in Europe.
Key statistics
25 – Harry Kane has 25 league goals this season, five before the best best Serhou Guirassy, and is a top of the goalscores for the second consecutive season.
7 – Hamburg will return to the elite next season after seven campaigns during the second flight.
0 – Freiburg has never played football in the Champions League, but can qualify with a home victory against Frankfurt on Saturday.
Assaleurs (Saturday 1330 GMT)
Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich, Heidenheim against Werder Bremen, Borussia Moenchengladbach against Wolfsburg, Augsburg against Union Berlin, Borussia Dortmund against Holstein Kiel, RB Leipzig V Stuttgart, Freigrurg V Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz V Bayer Leverkusen, St Pauli V Frankfurt, Mainz V Bayer Leverkusen, St Pauli V Bocher Frankfurt, Mainz V Bayer Leverkusen, St Pauli V Boché
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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