News Analysis: Cup winner Wolfsburg on its way to Germany's No. 2

Despite the rather disappointing international campaigns of the two German Bundesliga clubs competing at the 72nd German Cup final, the game on Saturday evening might have given an answer who will be the future "No. 2" in Germany behind league champions Bayern Munich.

Neither VfL Wolfsburg nor Borussia Dortmund have left indelible footprints in international football this season. Both teams turned out to be not strong enough for Europe's top level.

Wolfsburg have not yet reached the Champions League final and Dortmund not repeated their appearance after losing to Bayern in 2013 (2-1). This season Wolfsburg was eliminated in the Euro League as early as in the quarterfinal by Italy's SSC Napoli (6-3 on aggregate) and Dortmund's last Champions League game was the 5-1 loss over two legs against 2015 finalists Juventus Turin in the round of the last 16.

VfL Wolfsburg won the duel of the crown princes 3-1 (goals by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang/5th, Luiz Gustavo/22nd, Kevin de Bruyne/33rd, Bas Dost/38th) in the Berlin Olympic stadium after coach Dieter Hecking's team finished runners-up in the 2014/15 championship season.

Wolfsburg, with a powerful sponsor in car manufacturer Volkswagen in the background, might be capable of rising up the international tree in the next years. This season, the 2009 German champion Wolfsburg directly qualified for the Champions League (23 points ahead of BVB) while Dortmund will first have to face the Euro League qualifying games.

But Wolfsburg have not been able to fully close the gap to Bayern Munich. "It'll take at least several years," said Wolfsburg's Director of Football Klaus Allofs.

Wolfsburg gave the first hint of its potential as they managed to sign striker Kevin de Bruyne in 2014 (Dortmund was interested as well). The Belgian is regarded as one of the best passing players in European football. The 25 million euros Wolfsburg paid Chelsea is turning out to be a worthwhile investment. De Bruyne (23) again proved to be an outstanding talented player that can make a difference in tight games.

De Bruyne (ten goals/22 assists) is still on the list of several top European clubs including, according to rumors, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Paris St. Germain.

"I feel at home in Wolfsburg and it is a great achievement to win the German Cup but I can't tell you anything about my immediate future," said De Bruyne. "It could be possible that some options for the club and myself come up while we're all on vacation," said the Belgian.

To sign De Bruyne won't be a cheap deal as his contract runs until 2019 and Wolfsburg manager Klaus Allofs pointed out that he won't be getting nervous when the offers fall short of 50 million euros.

Wolfsburg as well signed 2014 world champion Andre Schuerrle last winter from Chelsea (32 million euros).

So the 2015 Cup final was Juergen Klopp's second defeat in an important contest against Wolfsburg (after he could not get De Bruyne). And it was his last game as Dortmund's coach after seven years in which he won the German Cup once (2012) and the league twice (2011 and 2012).

Thomas Tuchel, who is regarded as a talented coach, will be his successor. Tuchel's big challenge will be to restructure Dortmund after the impressive Juergen Klopp era.

For the time being Wolfsburg have turned out to be the German club leading the chase to catch up on Bayern Munich. They also have the potential to make their mark in European football. In Berlin, Wolfsburg and their coach Hecking won the German Cup for the very first time which might be a first sign that the club is ready for more in the near future.

Wolfsburg's game has developed in the last years and is quite dynamic meanwhile. What seems to be another ability of Wolfsburg, having played a great season in general, is a high percentage of effectiveness.

"If you want to develop as a team you need to win titles as we did today," said Wolfsburg's manager Klaus Allofs. "Dortmund is still a positive example for us. They showed it is possible to be ready when Bayern, who is still years ahead of us, has problems when they are not at their best in the Bundesliga."

The Cup final was the first time in Germany's football history that goal line technology of hawk eye was used in an official game. Final referee Felix Brych would be informed by a signal at his watch if the ball was over the line or not within a single second.

In last year's final (Bayern Munich - Dortmund 2-0) Dortmund defender Mats Hummels scored a clear goal which was not seen by the referee. The 2015 final though showed that goal-line technology can't solve all problems in the penalty area. The foul committed by Wolfsburg defender Ricardo Rodriguez on Aubameyang (43rd) in the penalty box was neither seen by the referee nor hawk-eye. Endi