Bundesliga: Bayern wins on the wire, Dortmund collapses, Kolo Muani impresses... Review of the season

THE CHAMPION: Bayern on the gong

The joy of the Bavarians with this 11th consecutive crown. THILO SCHMUELGEN

A blank season for Bayern Munich would necessarily have rhymed with earthquake. Sovereigns at the national level to the point of granting themselves the last ten championship titles, the Bavarians have before this final day imagined the worst: losing their crown. Off to a bad start and for a long time in the wheel of Union Berlin and SC Freiburg, the Bavarians were not as imperial as usual. Not digitally replacing Robert Lewandowski turned out to be a huge mistake. The integration of Sadio Mané has been poorly managed and the management of Thomas Müller's playing time is still a thorny issue in Bavaria. Finally, the ouster of Julian Nagelsmann in favor of Thomas Tuchel at the end of March was a poker move on the part of the leaders. This exploded cocktail had everything to look like a disaster... But once again, Bayern Munich believed in it and by winning at the end of the match against Cologne (1-2), they took advantage of the draw of BVB to lift an 11th consecutive title. Hegemony persists...

To discover

• Bundesliga schedule and results
• Bundesliga standings

Jamal Musiala scored the decisive goal (89th) for Bayern Munich. THILO SCHMUELGEN

THE BEAUTIFUL STORY: the fairy tale of the Union Berlin

In 2008-2009, the team was champion of the 3.Bundesliga, the third national level. Ten years later, the club from Köpenick, a working-class district of East Berlin, entered the elite for the first time in its history. A great achievement for the Union which, since then, has only confirmed. 11th for their first season in the Bundesliga, 7th then 5th, the Steelworkers hang this time a qualification in the Champions League thanks to their success against Werder Bremen (1-0). A huge consecration for a well-structured stable, which does not seek light and remains faithful to its principles. The only unbeaten team at home this season, the team assembled by Swiss technician Urs Fischer is generous in effort and formidable on set pieces. Progress is not about to end and the question burns everyone's lips: how far will the Union go?

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THE COACH WHO REVEALED HIMSELF: Xabi Alonso, the fantastic comeback of Leverkusen

Arrived at the bedside of a sad Bayer Leverkusen on October 8, Xabi Alonso gave relief to a season that was sorely lacking. 17th in the standings after 8 rounds, the Werkself players have made a tremendous comeback and finish the season in an honorable 6th place, synonymous with qualification for the Conference Europa League. Playful and articulated in 3-4-3, his team has hung several beautiful teams on its chase board: Bayern Munich (2-1), RB Leipzig (2-0) or Union Berlin (5-0). The course in the Europa League (elimination in the semi-finals against AS Roma) pumped energy and the machine ran out of steam somewhat at the end of the season. A promising first experience for the Basque.

See alsoEuropa League: how Xabi Alonso transformed Bayer Leverkusen

THE PLAYER WHO REVEALED HIMSELF: Sheraldo Becker, the superhero of the Union

Sheraldo Becker arrived at Union Berlin when the club was moving up to the Bundesliga. His name is already known to the assiduous followers of the championship because the Surinamese even has nearly 100 games in the elite. After exercises spent on one side or in the shadow of other imposing offensive elements (Max Kruse, Taiwo Awoniyi), the winger replaced in the axis has taken on a new dimension. Symbol of the exceptional season of the Union, he was the spearhead of the Berlin attack. His speed and dribbling skills have greatly relieved his team and his statistical record is brilliant: Sheraldo Becker finished the season with 11 goals and 7 assists.

Sheraldo Becker, 11 goals and 7 assists this season. FABRIZIO BENSCH

THE TOP SCORER: Füllkrug, Torschützenkönig's revenge

Still in the 2.Bundesliga last season with Werder Bremen, the German striker took a nice revenge. At the dawn of his thirties, he was knighted by his peers eleven years after his debut in the elite. If seasons truncated by injuries or spent in the second division slowed its outbreak, Niclas Füllkrug finished 3rd in the ranking of Bundesliga top scorers in 2027-2018 (14 goals with Hannover). One of the only brilliant moments of his career before this fabulous 2022-2023 exercise that made him completely change dimension. If Niclas Füllkrug was selected for the first time with the German national team to play the World Cup in Qatar (1 goal) and has become the starting number 9 of the Mannschaft since, he owes much to his 16 goals in the Bundesliga. His Torschützenkönig title shared with Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) is well deserved.

Niclas Füllkrug (30) is crowned Bundesliga top scorer after complicated years. IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Kokenge

THE FRENCH OF THE SEASON: Kolo Muani, the sensation

After making his mark at FC Nantes, Randal Kolo Muani left for Eintracht Frankfurt. At the end of his contract, he had chosen his future destination very early and joining the Eagles proved wise. The marriage immediately worked out and the child from Villepinte (Seine Saint-Denis) enchanted the city of Hesse throughout the season. Second scorer (15) and best passer (12) in the league, Randal Kolo Muani carried Eintracht at arm's length, well disappointing in the standings (7th). His classy goals, his penalties caused in shambles and his very high rate of successful dribbles reflect well the XXL season of the 24-year-old.

" READ ALSO In the footsteps of Kolo Muani, the unfortunate hero of the World Cup

THE PLAYER WHO WILL BE TALKED ABOUT THIS SUMMER: Bellingham, the big jump

At only 19 years old, Jude Bellingham symbolizes maturity. The boss of the Borussia Dortmund midfield has hovered with ease over the Bundesliga. Despite a slight slack at the beginning of spring, the Englishman once again showed that he was indispensable to his team. Always as combative in the middle of the train, tireless restarter, the native of Birmingham has even added a beautiful string to his bow: goals. With 8 goals in 31 games, Bellingham was crucial in BVB's final sprint. His departure now seems inevitable, the Premier League and Real Madrid making him a assiduous court. Injured for the last game, his absence penalized his team enormously. He leaves as a boss, only the outcome will leave him a bitter taste.

At 19, Jude Bellingham is undoubtedly among the best players in the Bundesliga this season. IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Gabriel Boia

DISILLUSIONMENT: Dortmund collapses, again...

The 2011-2012 season goes back an eternity for Signal Iduna Park fans. At the time, Jürgen Klopp and his players had flown over the Bundesliga from A to Z, retaining their crown acquired a year earlier. 11 years later, their successors were all found but they stumbled on the final day. They will have believed in it until the end but in the end, it seems that the law of the strongest is always the best... Borussia Dortmund came close to ending Bavarian hegemony, a fatal setback to Mainz shattered an entire city's dream. Edin Terzic's men have not often made the race in the lead this season but had taken the reins of the championship at the best time, it was believed. Specialist in the art of collapsing in crucial moments, BVB has once again faltered. If his collective shone over time, the mind faltered at the end. Bayern can celebrate their 11th consecutive crown.

Edin Terzic, the BVB coach, comforting his men. LEON KUEGELER

THE DONKEY CAP: Hertha, the inevitable fall

By dint of flirting with relegation, it hung in his face. Here is Hertha Berlin officially back in the 2.Bundesliga, ten years after its last stay in the antechamber of German football. Already ric rac in 2020-2021 (two points from the first relegation) and barragiste last season, Lucas Tousart's club was already slipping dangerously towards this fatal destiny. With a quality squad but a sporting policy totally short of ideas, Hertha pays for its mistakes. With 7 wins, 8 draws but 19 losses, the players of Pal Dardai (returned to the bedside of the club for the 3rd time in 4 years), relegation is logical. Berlin's Olympiastadion is expected to ring hollow next season in the 2.Bundesliga if the club is not demoted administratively due to financial problems.

Solicited, Lucas Tousart should not continue the adventure with Hertha Berlin in the 2.Bundesliga. ANNEGRET HILSE

SPECIAL MENTION: Sébastien Haller, the resurrection despite everything

The stupor was strong when Sebastien Haller was diagnosed with a testicular tumor last summer, a few days after joining Borussia Dortmund. Coming in order to make forget Erling Haaland (86 goals in 89 games), the player trained at AJ Auxerre was quickly adopted by BVB fans. Adulated for his courage and determination during the treatment of his illness, the striker has been greatly supported by the club. Returning to competition in January, he initially struggled to get back on his feet. His lack of pace was not a real problem, with Dortmund knocking down opponents one by one in the dead of winter. It was in the final sprint that the Ivorian international made the powder talk with 5 goals and 2 assists in 3 games. However, his missed penalty against Mainz on the last day (2-2) deprived BVB of the title. This failure is likely to haunt him for a long time.

" READ ALSO Football: Sébastien Haller, the match of a lifetime after cancer