Title departure looms for Bayern Munich as investigator Mueller eyes potential conclusion
Bayern Munich, led by one-club veteran Thomas Müller, stands eight points ahead of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen with only three games remaining. Securing a win against RB Leipzig this weekend would clinch the title for Bayern.
Mueller, who joined Bayern at the tender age of 10, celebrated his 500th Bundesliga game last week. With another league title, he would join the exclusive club of players who have won 13 Bundesliga titles, a record only broken by Manchester United's Ryan Giggs in any of Europe's top five leagues[1].
"It sounds good, doesn't it?" Mueller said in an interview for the Bundesliga website[2]. "Winning the league trophy is a testament to the hard work and the long journey. The satisfaction of winning the league is greater than winning the Champions League or the German Cup."
Despite the approaching end of his Bayern career, Mueller is not embarking on a farewell tour. He remains focused on the task at hand - securing another league title for the Bavarians[2].
At the bottom of the table, Bochum faces relegation if they lose against Heidenheim on Friday. Their struggles this season have not been against top teams, but against mid-table sides and fellow relegation battlers[3]. Incidentally, Bochum's two wins this season came against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund[3].
Veteran coach Dieter Hecking has reminded his side, "It's a final, and one we're hugely anticipating[3]."
One player to watch is Niklas Suele of Borussia Dortmund. Under coach Niko Kovac, Suele has regained his form after a rough patch[4]. His performances have put him in the frame for a call-up for the Nations League finals in June[4].
Key stats reveal that St Pauli, in 14th place, has conceded just 36 goals - only Bayern and Leverkusen have allowed fewer[5]. Meanwhile, Dortmund has picked up 13 points in their past five games, keeping their top-four hopes alive[5]. Werder Bremen, two points off the European places, have won five of their past seven games[5].
Fixtures this weekend include Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Hoffenheim, Union Berlin vs Werder Bremen, RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich, St Pauli vs Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund vs Wolfsburg, Augsburg vs Holstein Kiel, Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen, and Mainz vs Eintracht Frankfurt[5].
Thomas Müller, with his long and successful career spanning over two and a half decades and over 700 appearances[3][4], stands on the precipice of breaking the record for the most Bundesliga titles won by a player, currently holding 12[5]. As Bayern Munich competes for another potential title, Müller's legacy as one of the most successful players in the club's history continues to grow.
Unless Bayern Munich experiences a significant downturn in their performance, Thomas Müller, their one-club veteran, is expected to secure his 13th Bundesliga title in 2025, edging closer to the record of 14 titles. This title win would also give Bayern Munich the Champions League trophy, as they currently lead with eight points ahead of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, provided they win against RB Leipzig this weekend. On the other hand, Bochum, at the bottom of the table, faces relegation unless they manage to win against Heidenheim this weekend.
