German women football giants FFC Turbine Potsdam blasted Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 away from home to remain on pace for the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League treble.
Potsdam captain Jennifer Zietz scored a hat-trick as the two-time reigning league champions remained atop the Bundesliga with 55 points after 21 of 22 game days. FFC Frankfurt – winners of six of eight league crowns between 2001 and 2008 – kept pace with Potsdam just one point behind at 54 after easing past Hamburg 4-0 away.
The Bundesliga title will be decided on the final game day March 13 with Potsdam hosting Essen-Schönebeck – ninth on the 12-team table – while Frankfurt welcome fourth placed Bayern Munich. A three-peat would give Potsdam five league titles – all coming since 2004. Frankfurt would capture their eighth championship – which would still leave them one behind all-time winners SSG 09 Bergisch Gladbach, who won six straight titles between 1979 and 1984.
Frankfurt not only can still snatch the Bundesliga title away from Potsdam but also have visions of a double themselves as Frankfurt and Potsdam will square off in the German Cup final on March 26 in Cologne.
Frankfurt are hoping to increase their national record of league crowns to eight – but first since 2008 – while Potsdam are looking for their first crown since three-peating between 2004 and 2006.
Potsdam also are still dreaming of defending their UEFA Women’s Champions League crown and adding a third title to their victory in 2005. In the Champions League quarter-finals, Potsdam are facing French side FCF Juvissy Essonne on March 16/17 and March 23. But an all German semi-final is possible as 2009 Champions League winners FCR 2001 Duisburg are taking on English club Everton in the quarters but have been drawn into a possible final four with Potsdam.
A German team won the Champions League the last three seasons and six of the nine seasons thus far. At least one German team made the final seven times with Frankfurt beating Potsdam in the 2006 final.