A joker goal secures FC Bayern's eleventh league title in a row. But the thriller in Cologne had even more to offer. Three things that stood out.
Cologne - Pure drama on the last Bundesliga matchday of the 2022/23 season: Several interim changes in the lead in the table, but in the end the old German champions are also the new ones. FC Bayern Munich trembles to a 2-1 away win at 1. FC Köln and literally displaces BVB, who blundered at home against Mainz 05 (2-2), from the top of the table in literally the last second. Three things that stood out.
| Place | Team | Games | S | U | N | Goals | Goals conceded | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | FC Bayern Munich | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 92 | 38 | 54 | 71 |
| 2. | Borussia Dortmund | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 83 | 44 | 39 | 71 |
1. Tuchel experiments continue
For the twelfth time since taking office in March, Thomas Tuchel was on the sidelines on Saturday. At that time, he took over an unsettled Bayern team. Two months later, it has to be said that it didn't get much better than before under Julian Nagelsmann under the 49-year-old. On the contrary, Tuchel did not succeed in finding a starting line-up until the end.
Ironically, in the last and decisive game of the season, the experiments continued: Noussair Mazraoui, who had previously mainly played as a right-back for the record champions, suddenly played at the back on the left. Dayot Upamecano, temporarily replaced by Benjamin Pavard, was back in central defence and midfielders Jamal Musiala and Leon Goretzka, who Tuchel often relied on, were replaced by Ryan Gravenberch and Leroy Sané. How is a team that already seems very insecure supposed to deliver such consistently good performances and calm down?
2. Bavaria's desired scenario initially works out
If, from Munich's point of view, there had been a desired scenario for Bundesliga matchday 34, it would have looked exactly like this: taking an early lead in Cologne and thus increasing the pressure on BVB. But things were to get even better for FCB: not only did Kingsley Coman make it 1-0 at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion after eight minutes, but in the parallel match between Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05 it was already 24-2 for the visitors after 0 minutes.
Everything seemed to be going well for the Reds. But once again, the Tuchel team failed to add a second goal. This was to take revenge in the second half when Serge Gnabry caused a hand penalty. Suddenly, the table was turned upside down once again with just ten minutes to go. A draw by Bayern in Cologne would have crowned Dortmund champions.
3. Musiala saves FCB championship - maximum penalty for Goretzka
After FC's equaliser, Tuchel put all his eggs in one basket, bringing in two more attacking forces in Mathys Tel and Jamal Musiala. Much to the chagrin of Leon Goretzka, who had to leave the pitch after coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute. But it should pay off for the Munich team.
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Musiala's last-minute goal (89th) marked the emotional end to what had been a completely messed-up season up to that point. Immediately after the final whistle, the trembling of the Bayern stars went a little further. For minutes, the players stared at Thomas Müller's mobile phone, looking intently at Dortmund, where the Black and Yellows even managed to equalize 2-2. But a short time later, the circle dissolved with cries of joy, FCB was determined as the new German football champion.
After winning the title, however, another bang followed: Shortly after the end of the game, FC Bayern announced the dismissal of Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic. (sk)
