After second-placed Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 at Freiburg, Bayern Munich won the title of German champions for the 34th time on Sunday, handing striker Harry Kane his first major trophy.
In order for defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen to delay the title party, Bayern needed to win 3-3 at RB Leipzig on Saturday when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer.
In the final ten minutes, Leverkusen scored twice before falling two goals.
Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt following Leverkusen’s 11-year reign last season, but Xabi Alonso’s side were unable to find a third.
Alonso congratulated his former team, who won three Bundesliga titles while playing for Bayern.
“Bayern congratulations. A deserved championship, indeed. They deserved the shield because they were a more consistent team all season, Alonso told DAZN.
The Champions are us! pic. twitter.com/YYHC7k6ldU
A group of Bayern players gathered on Sunday to watch the Leverkusen game in Munich, including Kane, who had never previously won silverware.
The England captain was ruled out of action at Leipzig, but he will make an appearance at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, where Bayern will receive the Bundesliga shield at full-time.
Leverkusen’s chances of defending their title were already slim because Bayern’s goal difference was far superior.
Before half-time, Freiburg’s Maximilian Eggestein scored a stunning goal from outside the box, and Piero Hincapie was pressured into setting up an own goal shortly after the break.
With eight minutes left, Florian Wirtz carved through the middle of the field before firing the ball in off the post for a spectacular solo goal.
In stoppage time, Jonathan Tah scored the winning goal, but Leverkusen could not find the third goal that would have extended their title run.
With only two games left, Leverkusen is eight points clear of Bayern, who became the first team in history to win the title without losing.
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brought it to my attention. For the city, the fans, and the club. #MiaSanMeister image https://twitter.com/jbYe1aj6NU
With the loss of the faint title hopes, Leverkusen’s focus will shift to preserving Alonso and Wirtz, who could both leave in the summer.
Alonso has been heavily linked with Real Madrid, where he spent five seasons as a player, but has an extension to his contract at Leverkusen until 2026.
Although Wirtz’s contract expires in 2027, the German international is reportedly considering a big-money move to Bayern.
Tah, who has already stated that he will leave the club for free after ten years at Leverkusen, described his team’s “too little intensity” and “we had too few runs in behind. Today, it didn’t work.
The German centre-back has been linked with moves to Bayern and Barcelona, but he said “we’ll see” where he plays next.
Leverkusen extended their home-based unbeaten streak to 33 games with the late goal, breaking Bayern’s all-time all-time mark in the Bundesliga.
Freiburg is now fourth in the Champions League standings, one point clear of Borussia Dortmund. Freiburg have never participated in the best competition in Europe.
Holstein Kiel’s 3-1 victory over Augsburg on Sunday helped them maintain their goal of avenging the drop.
Alexander Bernhardsson scored a double and Shuto Machino scored the winning goal, leaving Kiel one point off Heidenheim in the relegation play-off spot.
With a victory over local rivals Mainz in Sunday’s late game, Eintracht Frankfurt can significantly advance to the top four and Champions League qualification.
Source: Channels TV
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