By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Fans are convinced that it's is about time for Borussia Dortmund to collect their next national title. Never since 2012, the year of the Blacks and Yellows last German Championship, has the opportunity been more promising.
With seven match-days to go, the team of Swiss coach Lucien Favre is two points ahead of their rival Bayern Munich. This Saturday they are crossing swords with the Bavarians.
Pundits are convinced that the 2018/2019 title will be decided this weekend.
Beating Bayern would provide a five-point lead for Dortmund.
Here are five reasons why the club located in a worker's region in the far west of the country is going to succeed.
1. Marco Reus
The name of his daughter is yet to be announced officially.
Born last Saturday, it is already apparent the new family member must be very influential.
The "Little Princess" (Reus called her in a social media tweet) made her father miss Dortmund's last league game but is said to give him a motivation boost for the remaining games and in particular for the Munich clash.
Reus is the man supplying speed. "He is a vital part of our forwarding game," sports director Zorc said. "We need him on Saturday," squad manager Sebastian Kehl emphasized. "Without him, our game lacks intuition," Kehl complained.
The 29-year-old German international scored 19 goals and delivered 10 assists. Reus' desire could not be bigger; the forward hasn't yet won the national championship.
2. Jadon Sancho
The 19-year-old London-born striker is this season's shooting star.
After joining Dortmund, the striker made his progress in the English national team. He triggered off a euphoric wave in German football when it comes to talents from the Premier League.
Despite a minor setback in the recent games, Sancho is said to fancy performing on the big stage in crucial games such as the one in the Munich arena.
He scored eight goals in 27 games.
3. Late Goals
The German phrase "Dusel" indicates underserved luck. Applied to football, Bayern Munich over the decades was suspected of benefiting from underserved success by scoring late goals or getting free kicks or penalties in the dying minutes.
Facts rarely addressed the allegations, it much more was the people's uncomfortable feelings caused by the Bavarians success. The phrase "Bayern Dusel" was created, along with 27 national championships and 17 Cup wins since the Bundesliga was invented in 1963.
For the 2018/2019 season, things changed in favor of Dortmund having scored nine goals in the 90th minute or in extra time. Bayern only managed two.
Dortmund won 13 points by scoring goals after the 84th minute. "It's a quality to score late goals. It is nice to know we can be a threat until the 95th minute," Mario Goetze said.
4. Mario Goetze
Some see him as one of the club's new arrivals. The fact is that Goetze is the returner of the year. In the first six season games, the struggling 26-year-old wasn't part of his coaches plans. Months later the 2014 world champion (scored Germany's winning goal against Argentina) turned into a vital performer.
The Bavarian-born midfielder found his path back acting as a box-striker fulfilling the mission to be the ball distributor up front.
In the last six league games, he was involved in five goals. Goetze scored five goals in 22 games.
"I never gave up, and today I feel the coaches trust," Goetze commented after he returned to Dortmund after three disappointing years for Bayern Munich (2013-2016).
No bold assumption: The game in Munich is a special one for him. "It would be the utmost to win this season's title," Goetze said.
5. Paco Alcacer
The 25-year-old Spaniard might still not be a man for a full 90 minutes, but you better don't trust his innocent smile when he enters the pitch.
Scoring both of Dortmund's goals against VfL Wolfsburg (2-0) made him the Bundesliga's record holder for late goals. The forward was the first player in the league's history to score five goals in the 90est minute or later within one season.
The Spanish international scored 16 goals in 21 games.
According to Michael Zorc teammates meanwhile, rely on Alcacer' instinct. "The team never loses faith when he is around," Dortmund's sports director commented.
Former Chinese Super League performer Axel Witsel announced to from now on calling him "El Matador."
The Belgian international said Alcacer "doesn't need many chances to score. He is a ruthless finisher."
