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Germany went back 23 years on Saturday. For the past 22 years, the Bundesliga leader entering the final round has completed the job and hoisted the championship plate, and the last to kick the bucket was Bayer Leverkusen. Today Dortmund did it with a 2-2 home win against Mainz, in a game where a win would have crowned them champions.
In the final round of the 1999-2000 season, Leverkusen could have won the first championship in its history. A draw against Unterhaching in the final round was enough, but the small Bavarian team won 0-2 at home and did a huge service to its neighbour. Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 1-3 and equalled their points tally with Leverkusen. 73 for both, but Bayern have a better goal difference - and they were crowned.
That's where the legacy of "Neverkusen" (from the word never) began - about the loser group that always came to the threshold of the well and did not drink. And Dortmund really doesn't want to be the new Neverkusen.
Dortmund are in shock (Photo by Getty Images, Alex Grimm)
Fans are in shock (Photo: Reuters)
Big party? Not even this year (Photo: Reuters)
The popular Bild newspaper this afternoon elaborated on Dortmund's upcoming championship celebrations and boasted: "We have obtained all the details." Today, however, the yellow-and-black "made Leverkusen" and kicked the bucket. A home win over Mainz would have given them their first title in 11 years, but they settled for a point. Bayern Munich "did Bayern Munich" - said thank you and took the plate - again thanks to superior goal difference.
"TITEL-HORROR" WAS LATER CALLED "THE HORROR OF THE TITLE GAME". Tens of thousands descended on Signal Iduna Park, hundreds of thousands planned to take to the streets to celebrate the championship. "There will be a big party here," they assured the media arriving in Dortmund. But the party will again be reserved for the streets of Munich.
23 years ago, when Bayern players arrived for the victory parade, a huge sign hung in the town hall: "Thank you Unterhaching." No one will be surprised if this time they hang a sign that reads in large letters "Thank you Mainz."
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