Even so, Gladbach still won the title that season — and not only that: they became the first club in Bundesliga history to defend a championship. And they did it in spectacular fashion, aided by a motivational trick few people remember today. After the first title in 1969/70, BMG still had to overhaul Bayern on the final day in 1970/71. Bayern lost 0:2 in Duisburg, while Mönchengladbach beat Frankfurt 4:1. The final tally was Gladbach on 50:18 points, Bayern on 48:20. Before the final matchday the teams had been level, with Bayern ahead on goal difference by one.\n\nAhead of Bayern’s match in Duisburg, Gladbach resorted to a very special stunt.
While the Munich side were warming up, the stadium announcer boomed: “Ladies and gentlemen, dear visitors, please give your applause and support to MSV Duisburg, whose players will receive a special bonus of 2,000 marks each from Mönchengladbach if they win today.” Bayern were stunned, the stands delighted, and the Zebras suddenly looked highly motivated — especially striker Rainer Budde, who scored twice in the second half. Bayern then tried their own nasty trick. When Duisburg made it 2:0, Sepp Maier walked off the pitch, claiming fans had stormed the field and injured him.
MSV official Jasbert saw it differently: “Beckenbauer gave him a signal, and then he went down.” Not every Roberto Boninsegna strategy works, and there was no “can” to help. The embarrassing part: the DFB had assumed Bayern would be champions and had sent the original trophy to Duisburg. Gladbach received theirs later the same day at Frankfurt Airport.