A decade of Bayern dominance stands on the precipice as Borussia Dortmund capitalize on a rare lapse from Bayern Munich and intrigue surrounds the race for Europe. Serious danger looms for three teams, while one team's relegation is confirmed. A comprehensive recap of the events that unfolded during Matchday 33 in the Bundesliga.
Dortmund held their nerve away at, going tantalizingly close to their first Bundesliga title in 10 years. A Felix Uduokhai red card had Dortmund fans wincing of a repeat of Stuttgart, but a late Sebastien Haller brace puts Die Schwarzgelben in pole position to lift the title at home against Mainz next Saturday. The Black and Yellow's tremendous Bundesliga form in 2023 continued, with an all-encompassing display, racking up over 4.5 expected goals on the night.
A streak of form for the extremely talented Donyell Malen and Karim Adeyemi coupled with the resurgence of Julian Brandt and Emre Can in midfield. An uncharacteristic but resolute centre back partnership of Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule, multiple time Bundesliga champions with Bayern has softened the unfortunate absence of the ever-impressive Nico Schlotterbeck. Raphael Guerreiro's exquisite technical ability has shone, but no more than his extreme versatility, covering for the 'star boy' Jude Bellingham with ease. Edin Terzic has moulded a team tactically and emotionally and set Dortmund up to pounce on a sliver of weakness in Bayern's hide in the tightest title race in Germany in years. Marco Reus lifting the Meisterschale to the thundering roar of the Black and Yellow wall next Sunday would be a fitting ending for all football romantics. Nevertheless, it's not a foregone conclusion. Stranger things have happened in football...
Bayern Munich's aura of infallibility, a sense of inevitability in the Bundesliga hangs in the balance. A pivotal penultimate weekend in the title race, with Bayern Munich facing RB Leipzig in a deciding clash. A humbling home loss to Marco Rose's side stunned the Allianz Arena, ensuring Leipzig's presence in the Champions League next season but crucially puts Bayern's title hopes in severe jeopardy.
A sublime goal from Serge Gnabry gave Bayern the lead, yet an unorganised, almost lackadaisical Bayern defence crumbled as Leipzig equalised through soon to be Bayern player Konrad Laimer, before stark defensive errors gave Christopher Nkunku and then Dominik Szoboszlai two deciding spot-kicks. Bayern are by no means lacking talent, but leadership, with important figureheads from the Bayern super team of the last decade missed dearly. Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic decision to replace Julian Nagelsmann with Thomas Tuchel seems severely misguided in hindsight, yet the vulnerability and inconsistency that has existed all season remains. For all the star quality this team possesses, an uncharacteristic end of season collapse raises questions about the Bayern hierarchy. Marco Rose undoubtedly deserves credit for implementing his 4-2-2-2 system with great effect, but changes are imminent in the Bayern dressing room. The German giants have come crashing down to mediocrity and there will be consequences, however with a marquee striker and defensive midfielder expected this summer, we can expect Bayern to come roaring back next season.
Xabi Alonso's revival of Bayer Leverkusen into one of Germany's most exciting and entertaining attacking sides. The Spanish midfield maestro's transformation of this team has been remarkable, developing star talent in Moussa Diaby, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong. With a disappointing midweek exit to AS Roma in the Europa League, in a match where Die Werkself's waves of attack failed to break down Jose Mourinho's defensive block, a European place hung in the balance for Leverkusen. Against Daniel Farke's Gladbach, facing a large summer overhaul, Leverkusen went 2-0 up in the first half thanks to Amine Adli and Kerem Demirbay, but calamitous defensive errors resulted in Jonas Hoffmann and Lars Stindl scoring past Lukas Hradecky to equalize.
The curtain raiser to a crucial penultimate matchday of the season, a Friday night clash between two European challengers. An uneventful first half, but Christian Streich's team produced a classic, taking the race for the Champions League to the final matchday. Christian Gunter gave Freiburg a 71st minute lead, before German legend Nils Petersen doubled their lead, another terrific performance at the Europa Park Stadion to overcome Niko Kovac's impressive, youthful Vfl Wolfsburg side.
Ihlas Bebou's goal along with Hoffenheim legend Andrej Kramaric's brace gave Hoffenheim an important cushion. Three goals in ninety minutes, this game alive in extra time, when Aissa Laidouni gave Union Berlin faint hope before a late Munas Dabbur goal secured the vital three points that may have retained Hoffenheim's topflight status. Union Berlin however remain in pole position to grab the last Champions League spot.
Eintracht Frankfurt's horrific end of season form continued but the turnaround in Schalke's fortunes under Thomas Reich has been a remarkable story, die Konigsblauen taking 22 points in the last 17 matchdays to keep their relegation hopes alive. A Simon Terodde set piece goal in the first minute cancelled out by Daichi Kamada, set up by the ever-impressive Randal Kolo Muani, before Aurelio Tuta's goal in the second half gave Frankfurt the lead. Yet Schalke fought on, with Sebastian Polter grabbing a crucial point for Schalke's hopes of remaining in the German topflight alive.
A shock win for Stuttgart takes the relegation fight to the last matchday, with five teams in contention to stay up, but Hertha Berlin are guaranteed of relegation.
Other results this matchday
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