There’s one thing my coach never tired of saying to me: “Hau den Ball ins Tor hinein!” – best translated with: “Just slam it into the back of the net!” What did yours used to say to you? What about this one: “I’d like to thank my producer, my fans and, of course, my dad. Dad, if you’re looking down on us right now, this one’s for you!” Yes, it’s Oscar-time again and you can bet your last Euro that there were a few speeches like that last night. Now, the German Bundesliga is not exactly Hollywood, but if it were to award Oscars, the 25th day of play wouldn’t be a bad time to reward a few teams and players who have really excelled.

He lurks. He is patient. Praying on naivety, choosing the right moment, he makes him move. He rarely misses an opportunity. You might wish he were not there, but ignoring him doesn’t make him any less real.

The bogeyman is no other than the team people love to hate – Bayern Munich. The Bavarians are adept at snatching titles at the last minute. Ask Leverkusen. Or, for the crowning glory of the bogeyman’s triumphs, ask Schalke.

Rensing claws the ball off the line. Replays showed it should have been given a goal. Photo: picture alliance/M.i.s. Sportspressfoto

Die-hard football fans dread the summer break. It’s a strange two and a half month period with one barren weekend following the next. Obsessive followers check the transfer rumors several times a day and fans throughout the world tinker with their fantasy teams non-stop. But really it’s all just a way of making the time go by more quickly. Being prepared for that moment: The new season, full of hopes and dreams.

On Monday morning, Bayern Munich coach Jürgen Klinsmann was informed that he was surplus to requirements. This came as no surprise to Bundesliga fans, as Bayern had crashed to a 7th league defeat at home against Schalke on Saturday afternoon. Luckily for Bayern, however, they are still in the title race, as league leaders Wolfsburg suffered a shock defeat at the hands of lowly Energie Cottbus, whilst Hamburg lost away in Dortmund. With just five match days to go, the title race has been blown wide open: The five teams at the top are separated by just three points. And many still have to play each other.

There was a collective gasp by Bundesliga fans watching the top match between VfL Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich. Not only had Grafite just scored an outrageously brilliant back-heeled goal that sent the broadcasters into a replay-showing, superlative-searching frenzy – it also happed to be the fifth goal in a 5-1 demolition of Bayern that put Wolfsburg top of the league.