2023-05-28 03:01:26
Crazy and cruel at the same time. Bayern regained the lead in the Bundesliga on the 34th and final day of the German championship on Saturday afternoon, securing an eleventh title in a row at the expense of Borussia Dortmund. But this simple sentence is not enough to sum up the whirlwind of emotions that crossed football across the Rhine during this final act. A crazy moment of which here are the different twists.
Coman launches Bayern, Borussia cooled from the start
With a two-point lead over their Bavarian rival, the Ruhr players have their destiny in their feet when they welcome Mainz to their stadium, invaded by wasps before kick-off. But the afternoon quickly took a nasty turn for Sébastien Haller and his partners. Very ugly even.
A hundred kilometers away in Cologne, where Bayern Munich moves, the Bavarians score first through their winger Kingsley Coman. A fine strike (0-1, 8th), followed seven minutes later by a goal from Mainz defender Andreas Hip-Olsen (0-1, 15th). Big cold blow at Signal Iduna Park, where the Yellow and Black go virtually to second place in the Bundesliga.
Haller misses his penalty, Mainz drives the point home
This is another of the turning points of this incredible day. Four minutes after Mainz opened the scoring, Sébastien Haller set off to take a penalty and bring his team level. The Ivorian center-forward sees his attempt diverted by the opposing goalkeeper. Five minutes later, Onisiwo with a header (0-2, 24th) sinks Dortmund even further. The dream of a home title turns into a nightmare for Borussia, who return to the locker room with three goals to score to be crowned.
Dortmund returns, and is virtually crowned
Dortmund embarks on its recovery operation. If Borussia is scared by a few incursions from Mainz, its midfielder Raphaël Guerreiro ends up scoring (1-2, 69th). But the real turnaround comes from Cologne. On a hand from Munich’s Serge Gnabry, the referee awards a penalty to Bayern’s opponents. He is transformed by Dejan Ljubicic (1-1, 81st), who virtually restores the title of champion to Borussia Dortmund. For eight minutes only.
Musiala puts Bayern in the lead again
This is indeed the time it takes for the Munich residents to regain the advantage and the lead in the championship. All thanks to his attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala, one of the rare satisfactions of Germany at the last World Cup, left on the bench at kick-off. In the wake of a big chance missed by Leroy Sané, the young 20-year-old grabbed the ball at the entrance to the area before scoring with a very nice shot into the side netting (1-2, 89th ) and to shout his joy in front of the Bavarian supporters who came to Cologne. The news reaches the phones of Signal Iduna Park very quickly, freezing the atmosphere again.
Dortmund equalize … in vain
Borussia is pushing. Again and again. After a goal disallowed for offside to Sébastien Haller, Dortmund finally equalizes (1-1, 95th) through its defender Niklas Süle, ex-player of Bayern Munich. But the few seconds left after this goal by the referee are not enough. The meeting ends in chilling silence. Borussia is second while in Cologne, the Bayern players let their joy burst after having followed the outcome on a mobile phone.
Bayern Munich fires its president and sporting director
A few minutes after the coronation, the newspaper Bild publishes an article that has the effect of a bomb. The daily announces that Bayern has decided to fire its president, former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn officially absent in Cologne due to a flu, and its sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, at the helm since 2017. The two leaders are paying for a tumultuous season behind the scenes, marked by the replacement in March of coach Julian Nagelsmann by ex-PSG coach Thomas Tuchel.
The news makes Dietmar Hamann, ex-midfielder of the club converted as a consultant for Sky, unpin. “To do that five minutes after winning the championship is unworthy,” he said. Bavarian captain Thomas Müller remains on his cloud: “The strongest in emotions was probably the first, with my 19 or 20 years in the stadium at home. But this one is the craziest.
In Dortmund, the players dry their tears as best they can. But in the stands, their supporters sing in their honor. The title flew away, but they remain for their Borussia, still struck down by its rival.
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