Borussia Dortmund’s hopes of clinching the Bundesliga title were dashed as Bayern Munich secured their 11th consecutive championship with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Cologne. In a dramatic final day, Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern side snatched the title from Dortmund’s grasp by the slimmest of margins.
Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 89th minute to secure the crucial victory. Meanwhile, Dortmund, who started the day with a two-point lead at the top, suffered a setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Mainz, ultimately losing out on goal difference.
The title race took an unexpected turn early on when Mainz surged into a two-goal lead in the first half against Dortmund. Andreas Hanche-Olsen opened the scoring in the 15th minute, leaving Signal Iduna Park in shock. Dortmund was handed a lifeline moments later when Dominik Kohr fouled inside the box, but Finn Dahmen saved Sebastien Haller’s penalty.
The situation worsened for Dortmund when Karim Onisiwo headed home Jae-Sung Lee’s cross to extend Mainz’s lead to 2-0. Dortmund’s response came late in the game, as Raphael Guerreiro found the back of the net from Gio Reyna’s pass with just 21 minutes remaining.
To secure the victory and the championship, Dortmund needed two more goals while hoping that Bayern stayed ahead in their match against Cologne. However, a handball by Serge Gnabry led to Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty for Mainz, leaving Dortmund’s hopes hanging by a thread.
Dortmund fans desperately wished for an intervention from elsewhere, but those hopes were crushed in the dying minutes as Gnabry set up Musiala to score the winning goal for Bayern. Although Niklas Sule managed to equalize for Dortmund in the 96th minute, time ran out before they could find a winner.
In the end, both Dortmund and Bayern finished with 71 points, but Bayern’s superior goal difference of 15 secured them the title in one of the most dramatic conclusions to a Bundesliga season.
The unexpected triumph for Bayern left them celebrating an astonishing 11th consecutive championship, while Dortmund’s dreams of claiming their first league trophy since 2012 were shattered. Adding another twist to the story, Bayern announced the immediate dismissal of CEO Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic following their title win.
Despite the managerial shake-up, Thomas Tuchel expressed his awareness of the decision, stating that Kahn and Salihamidzic had approached him eight weeks prior, convincing him to join the club. While Tuchel acknowledged their contribution, he also mentioned the need to process the news. The focus quickly shifted to the upcoming challenges and discussions surrounding the departures.
RB Leipzig and Union Berlin secured third and fourth place, respectively, guaranteeing their spots in the Champions League for the next season. Hertha Berlin and Schalke 04 faced relegation, while VfB Stuttgart would participate in the relegation play-off.
Bayern Munich’s victory against Cologne was set in motion by Kingsley Coman’s remarkable eighth-minute strike, a perfectly curled shot into the top corner. Despite Dortmund’s early setback, Bayern controlled the first half without taking unnecessary risks.
Leroy Sane appeared to extend Bayern’s lead just before halftime, but his goal was disallowed after a VAR review for handball. With Bayern’s club officials anxiously checking the score in Dortmund, Cologne was awarded an 80th-minute penalty, which Ljubicic confidently converted, leveling the match.
In the 88th minute, Sane seemed to have missed his chance to secure the title when he failed to beat the Cologne goalkeeper. However, Musiala stepped up just a minute later, delivering a sensational low drive that curled into the far post, sealing the rollercoaster ending to the season.
Bayern Munich’s triumph and Dortmund’s disappointment marked the conclusion of an enthralling Bundesliga campaign, leaving fans and football enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the next chapter in German football.
