When the final whistle blows at the end of 90 minutes at Leipzig's Red Bull Arena on Saturday, there is a decent chance that normal service will have resumed in German football.
Bayern Munich need just one more victory to wrestle the Meisterschale out of Bayer Leverkusen's grasp and secure the Bavarian behemoth's record-extending 34th Bundesliga crown.
Vincent Kompany's side travel to RB Leipzig with an eight-point lead over second-placed Leverkusen – who won the title for the first time having finished last season unbeaten – with three games to play.
Victory would complete a remarkable change in fortunes for Kompany, who finished the 2023/24 season having seen his Burnley side relegated from the English Premier League.
There were eyebrows raised when the Belgian was chosen to replace Thomas Tuchel after Bayern had failed to win a trophy for the first time since 2012 and saw a run of 11 consecutive German titles come crashing to a halt.
But Kompany has responded to the challenge in style and is set to win the first major honour of his coaching career.
“As a coach, you feel it's the players who've won the title, so I wouldn't say it's my title. It's about the players,” said Kompany, who was a four-time Premier League champion as a player with Manchester City.
“Talent determines a lot. I want them to get the chance to show their best. I hope we can do it, but it's important that the players want to achieve it.”
Bayern have lost only two Bundesliga games this season, while they top the scoring charts with 90 goals and have the meanest defence, conceding 29. Leverkusen are the next best in both areas notching 66, shipping 35.
And now they are just three points from regaining the domestic crown. “It's extremely important for us and for all Bayern fans that we bring the title back to Munich. We've been working towards it all season,” Croatian defender Josip Stanisic told Bayern's website last week.
“It is, as they say, the most authentic title, because you have to earn it over 34 matchdays.”
But taking on fifth-place Leipzig on their home turf will be no easy task and one made even trickier as they will be without top-scorer Harry Kane who misses the match due to suspension.
The England captain – who has scored 36 goals in 44 games across competitions this season – picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during last weekend's 3-0 win over Mainz.
It means Kane – who has 24 league goals and is set to become the first player to finish as top scorer in each of his first two Bundesliga seasons – will not be on the pitch if Bayern do win the title on Saturday.
“It's kind of my story that I'll miss the Leipzig game,” said Kane, who looks set to seal the first silverware of his goal-laden if trophy-free career, for club and country. “But no worries, I'll celebrate more than anyone else.”
“It's not ideal but we won [against Mainz],” Kompany said of Kane's suspension. “But it is not like a final [next week].
“Every title you have to celebrate it like it's your first so I don't think it will make much of a difference for Harry.
“It doesn't take away a single per cent of his contribution this season.”
With Kane absent, and 12-goal Jamal Musiala missing for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, Bayern will look to other sources to find the back of the net against Leipzig.
The likes of Leroy Sane (10) and Michael Olise (nine) have both made healthy contributions this season, with Serge Ganbry (six) and Kingsley Coman (five) also chipping in.
Winger Olise has made the step up from mid-table Premier League outfit Crystal Palace to German giants Bayern look impressively easy, scoring one and setting up another during the win over Mainz last time out.
The summer signing, whose fee could rise to nearly €60 million including add-ons, also has a top-flight leading 12 assists this season.
“Olise has become one of our most important players this season,” Kompany said of the Frenchman last month.
“That’s not something you can take for granted when it’s your first year in the Bundesliga at this level.”
As well taking Bayern to the brink of the title, last week's win against Mainz saw veteran forward Thomas Muller make his 500th Bundesliga appearance after coming on as a late substitute.
It will be an emotional finale to the season for Muller who will be leaving the club after 25 years this summer. The 35-year-old could start in place of Kane this weekend.
Muller's 748 appearances for Bayern is a club record, while he is third on their all-time top-scorers list with 248 goals, winning 32 major trophies since making his senior debut in 2008.
“The numbers he’s produced are simple amazing,” said Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl. “Whether it’s games, goals or trophies, it’s extraordinary. It can't be overstated. It's a unique career.”
The German World Cup winner has set his sights on one final target before bringing his incredible Bayern career to a close.
“What I want as a farewell should be clear: titles we can celebrate together, and moments we'll remember fondly for a long time,” said Muller when his exit was announced in April.
“We're going to give our all in the coming weeks to bring the league title back to Munich.”
