Dortmund hopes for 'small miracle' to take title from Bayern

Despite needing a "small miracle" to win the Bundesliga title on the final day of the season, Borussia Dortmund already has its celebration party planned.

Bayern Munich, which leads Dortmund by two points and has a huge advantage on goal difference, is favored to win its record-extending seventh straight title on Saturday. But Dortmund hasn't given up hope.

"I have the feeling we're on the verge of something great," Dortmund chief executive Hans Joachim Watzke said. "I myself can't explain it."

Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski, left, defender Mats Hummels, center and defender Niklas Suele greet supporters at the end of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Leipzig and Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Arena stadium in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, May 11, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Probst)

Bayern essentially needs only a point at home against Eintracht Frankfurt, which hasn't beaten the defending champions in 15 league games and has lost on its last nine visits to Munich. Dortmund, meanwhile, faces a tough game at Borussia Mönchengladbach at the same time.

"It's still possible. We want to achieve the small miracle," said Sebastian Kehl, a former Dortmund midfielder who is now a club official working closely with the players. "If there's a little wobble from Bayern we want to use it."

Plans for an open-top bus parade through Dortmund's streets on Sunday were made months in advance, when the team held a nine-point lead over Bayern.

"We look at the standings," said Oliver Nestler, the head of the city's fire department.

But Dortmund squandered its lead in consecutive draws against Frankfurt, Hoffenheim and Nuremberg in February before losing at Augsburg. A 5-0 win for Bayern in Munich underlined the difference between the teams last month, before Dortmund dropped more points at home against Schalke and then at Werder Bremen.

Bayern could have won the title last weekend but was held to a goalless draw at Leipzig. However, the team is determined the take the second of what coach Niko Kovac described as "two match balls" against Frankfurt, his former team, and bring what has been a testing season to a successful close.

"If we had this situation in winter, that we could seal it with a win at home against Frankfurt, we would have signed for it straight away," Bayern forward Thomas Müller said.

It should be straightforward. Frankfurt claimed the last of its three wins in Munich (from 47 visits) in November 2000. It avoided conceding only twice in those 47 games.

Frankfurt has conceded eight goals in its last two league games and is clearly feeling the effect from a long European season. The team pushed Chelsea hard before bowing out in the semifinals of the Europa League.

Frankfurt, which was fourth and in the last place for Champions League qualification, is now sixth and in danger of missing out on qualifying even for the Europa League.

"We only have ourselves to blame for this situation," said Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter, who took over from Kovac and was leading Frankfurt to its best ever league campaign. "We still have the chance to re-qualify. We have to take it."

With favors from elsewhere and a win in Munich, Frankfurt could even reclaim fourth and earn its place in Europe's premier competition for the first time since 1960.

One omen gives Frankfurt - and Dortmund - hope: Bayern has never won the title at home since moving into its new stadium in 2005.

SECOND DIVISION

Cologne has already earned promotion back to the Bundesliga as second-division champion despite only one win from its last six games.

Either Paderborn or Union Berlin will join Cologne in the top division, replacing relegated Hannover and Nuremberg.

Paderborn, currently second, leads Union by a point ahead of its visit to Dynamo Dresden on Sunday. Union realistically needs a win at Bochum and a favor from Dresden at the same time to claim the automatic promotion spot.

Failing that - and barring an extraordinary 21-goal turnaround from fourth-place Hamburger SV - Union will face Stuttgart in a two-leg playoff to determine which team plays in the Bundesliga next season.

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Ciarán Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfaheyAP

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomande is remarkably unfazed by reports he could be a 100-million-euro ($116 million) signing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The 19-year-old Diomande has made an impressive start to the Africa Cup of Nations and says he is fully focused on helping the Elephants defend their title.

“I want to win this competition, this is my biggest dream, and then after go back to my club and try to play there and (learn) everything and play in the Champions League. This is my dream,” Diomande told The Associated Press in Marrakech this week.

Diomande, who joined German team Leipzig in the summer, has been linked with Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich, Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as European champion Paris Saint-Germain.

But they are likely to meet strong resistance from Leipzig, which is healthy financially after big-money sales in recent years and has ambitions of its own after missing out on European qualification last season.

Diomande himself says he’s in no hurry to leave.

“For now, I’m happy there,” Diomande said of Leipzig. “Everyone likes me there and I’m enjoying there. I’m not looking at everything (happening) around me. I am trying to stay focused on my road. I’m trying to focus on my way. Trying to be concentrated on my club.”

Strong, with explosive pace, Diomande already has six goals and set up three more in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig. He broke his nose in a win over Werder Bremen in November and needs to wear a protective mask.

Leipzig, which is backed by energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull, signed Diomande from Spanish side Leganés, where he spent one season and made 10 La Liga appearances including his debut against Real Madrid. He joined Leganés after moving from Florida-based AS Frenzi.

“I had to work for long and I had to travel to a lot of countries for this, and today I’m making my dream true, so I’m very proud,” Diomande said of his early travels.

Including his goal in the 3-0 win over Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup last 16, he has three in eight appearances for Ivory Coast. He scored twice in World Cup qualifying and can look forward to a return to the United States for this summer’s tournament.

“I studied there, I went to USA. It’s gonna be good to be back there, to see my friends, to see the countries, and enjoy the World Cup,” he said.

But first, there’s the Africa Cup, where defending champion Ivory Coast faces seven-time champion Egypt in the quarterfinals on Saturday before a potential semifinal against Senegal on Wednesday.

“It’s going to get harder but we are ready and we’re confident," Diomande said. “We’re going to go there and try to fight, have a good spirit, a good mentality and win.”

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande is challenged by Cameroon's Junior Che Malone during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, in Marrakech, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Burkina Faso's Steeve Yago, right, challenges Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Burkina Faso's Issa Kabore, right, challenges Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)