Crazy and cruel at the same time. Bayern regained the lead in the Bundesliga on the 34th and final day of the German league on Saturday afternoon, securing an eleventh title in a row at the expense of Borussia Dortmund. But this simple sentence is not enough to summarize the whirlwind of emotions that crossed football across the Rhine during this final act. A crazy moment of which here are the different twists.
Coman launches Bayern, Borussia cooled from the start
With a two-point lead over rivals Bavaria, the Ruhr players have their fate at their feet when they welcome Mainz to their wasp-invaded stadium before kick-off. But the afternoon quickly takes an ugly turn for Sébastien Haller and his partners. Very naughty even.
A hundred kilometers away in Cologne, where Bayern Munich travels, the Bavarians score first through their winger Kingsley Coman. A beautiful strike (0-1, 8th), followed seven minutes later by a goal by Mainz defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen (0-1, 15th). Big cold blow at Signal Iduna Park, where the Yellow and Black virtually move to second place in the Bundesliga.
📺 [ LIVE] ⚽🇩🇪 #Bundesliga
🔥 THE WONDER OF COMAAAAAAAN!!!
🤩 A splendid strike to open the scoring that potentially offers the title to Bayern!https://t.co/5Ex3Vr7VMZ
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) May 27, 2023
Haller misses penalty, Mainz drives the nail
This is another of the turning points of this incredible day. Four minutes after Mainz opened the scoring, Sebastien Haller rushed to shoot a penalty and bring his team back to even. The Ivorian centre-forward sees his attempt diverted by the opposing goalkeeper. Five minutes later, Onisiwo from the lead (0-2, 24th) pushed Dortmund even further. The dream of a home title turned into a nightmare for Borussia, who returned to the locker room with three goals to score to be crowned.
📺 [ LIVE] ⚽🇩🇪 #Bundesliga #Action
😱 HALLER WHO MISSES THE PENALTY !!!
😬 Nothing goes to Dortmund where the Ivorian misses the equalizing ball... https://t.co/obTIqhRvYm
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) May 27, 2023
📺 [ LIVE] ⚽🇩🇪 #Bundesliga #Action
😱 We are witnessing a monumental "choke" in Dortmund!!!
👀 2-0 for Mainz and BVB are a little further away from the title... https://t.co/BjID31a6uy
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) May 27, 2023
Dortmund returns, and is virtually sacred
Dortmund embarks on its revival operation. If Borussia is scared on some incursions of Mainz, its midfielder Raphael Guerreiro ends up scoring (1-2, 69th). But the real turnaround comes from Cologne. On a hand of Munich Serge Gnabry, the referee awards a penalty to Bayern's opponents. It was converted by Dejan Ljubicic (1-1, 81st), who virtually restored the league title to Borussia Dortmund. For eight minutes only.
📺 [ LIVE] ⚽🇩🇪 #Bundesliga #Action
🔥🔥🔥 COLOGNE EQUALISES ON PENALTY KICK!!!
🤯 Dortmund is back at the top of the Bundesliga for now! pic.twitter.com/UHWYccQ0vd
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) May 27, 2023
Musiala puts Bayern back in the lead
This is indeed the time it takes for Munich to regain the advantage and the lead of the championship. All thanks to its attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala, one of the few satisfactions of Germany at the last World Cup, left on the bench at kick-off. In the wake of a big missed opportunity by Leroy Sané, the 20-year-old grabbed the ball at the entrance of the box before scoring with a beautiful strike into the small net (1-2, 89th) and screaming his joy in front of the Bavarian fans who came to Cologne. The news quickly arrives on the phones of the Signal Iduna Park, freezing the atmosphere again.
📺 [ LIVE] ⚽🇩🇪 #Bundesliga #Action
🔥🔥🔥 MUSIALAAAAAAAAAAA FOR BAYERN'S TITLE!
🤯 Munich regained the lead a few minutes from the end!https://t.co/E0FBsjFYJE
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) May 27, 2023
Dortmund equalises... in vain
Borussia is growing. Again and again. After a goal denied for offside to Sébastien Haller, Dortmund finally equalized (1-1, 95th) through its defender Niklas Süle, former Bayern Munich player. But the few seconds left after this goal by the referee are not enough. The meeting ends in chilling silence. Borussia are second while in Cologne, Bayern players let their joy burst after following the outcome on a mobile phone.
Dejected, the Borussia players went to greet their public at the end of the match. LP/Icon sport PictureAlliance / Icon Sport
Bayern Munich sacks president and sporting director
A few minutes after the coronation, the newspaper Bild published an article that had the effect of a bombshell. The daily reports that Bayern have decided to sack their president, former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn officially absent in Cologne due to flu-like illness, and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, at the helm since 2017. The two leaders are paying for a tumultuous season behind the scenes, marked by the replacement in March of coach Julian Nagelsmann by former PSG coach Thomas Tuchel.
The news makes Dietmar Hamann, former midfielder of the club turned consultant for Sky. "To do that five minutes after winning the championship is undignified," he said. Bavarian captain Thomas Müller remains on his cloud: "The strongest in emotions was probably the first, with my 19 or 20 years in the stadium at home. But this one is the craziest."
"And we will always be Borussia, there is never, never, another club..."pic.twitter.com/BqVju6QiG3
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 27, 2023
In Dortmund, the players dry their tears as best they can. But in the stands, their supporters sing in their honor. The title has flown away, but they remain for their Borussia, still crushed by its rival.
