Bayern Munich secures Bundesliga title after Mueller's last home victory with the club
Football Frenzy: Bayern Munich's Party, Relegation Drama, and Playoff Pursuits
Berlin buzzed with excitement as Bayern Munich celebrated their Bundesliga title victory last weekend, thumping Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0 in Thomas Mueller's final home game. Michael Olise scored one goal and assisted another for Harry Kane's league-leading 25th goal of the season, kickstarting the revelry. Bayern was set to receive the Bundesliga trophy post-match.
Meanwhile, the relegation battleground was intense. Bochum and Holstein Kiel were condemned to relegation while Leipzig's Champions League aspirations crashed after a 0-0 draw at Werder Bremen. Bochum, who were promoted as the second division champions in 2021, ending their 11-year hiatus from the top flight, suffered a 4-1 drubbing at home against Mainz. Kiel's 2-1 defeat at Freiburg solidified their descent back to the second division.
Leipzig's draw left them four points behind Freiburg with one round remaining, ruling out any chance of Champions League qualification. Neither Bochum nor Kiel could catch third-from-bottom Heidenheim after the latter's 3-0 win at Union Berlin, ensuring a relegation playoff spot for Heidenheim.
With only one game left to play, Bochum had 22 points, Kiel 25, and Heidenheim 29 - just two behind St. Pauli, who had two matches remaining. St. Pauli faces third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. Bochum needed a win and a favor from Union against Heidenheim to escape relegation, but it was too little, too late as Mainz took a 3-0 lead before Bochum scored.
Bochum's relegation marked their seventh demotion from the top division. Captain Maximilian Wittek lamented, "I've been relegated before, it's anything but nice. You could see it with the lads, tears were flowing. It's among the worst things that can happen in football."
Similarly, Kiel, who were promoted for the first time only last season, returned to the second division. Despite taking the lead, they lost to Freiburg, moving four points clear of Borussia Dortmund, who visit Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday for Xabi Alonso's final home game as Leverkusen coach. A Leverkusen win would send Freiburg to the Champions League.
As the season concludes, Hamburg SV has the opportunity to return to the division with a win at home against Ulm in the second division. Thousands of blue-clad fans greeted the team bus with songs, flags, and flares.
In the recent Bundesliga season, Greuther Fürth and Arminia Bielefeld were the teams that suffered relegation, finishing in the bottom two positions. On the other hand, Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen, who secured the top two spots in the 2. Bundesliga, will join the Bundesliga for the 2022-2023 season.
- Despite the excitement of Bayern Munich's title victory, the absence of Bochum from next season's Bundesliga is just as noteworthy following their 4-1 defeat at home against Mainz.
- Bochum's captain, Maximilian Wittek, confirmed that the team's relegation is among the worst things that can happen in football, symbolized by the tears that flowed amongst the players.
- In sports news, Kiel, who were promoted to the Bundesliga last season, have been relegated back after losing to Freiburg, moving four points clear of Borussia Dortmund who visit Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
- As the relegation drama unfolds, Greuther Fürth and Arminia Bielefeld are confirmed to be relegated from this season's Bundesliga, making room for Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen to join for the 2022-2023 season.
