Bayern Munich News: Borussia Dortmund squandered a brilliant chance to dethrone Bayern Munich, the reigning Bundesliga champions for the past decade. They settled for a disappointing 2-2 draw against Mainz at home, while Bayern secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Köln, resulting in an unforgettable finale to the season.
Entering the final day, Dortmund had a promising opportunity to claim the title. They held a two-point lead over Bayern, occupied the top position in the table, and even had the advantage of playing their last match at home. There were even plans for a celebratory parade.
For Bayern Munich to secure the title, they needed a win and had to rely on Dortmund losing or drawing their match. However, if Dortmund lost while Bayern suffered a defeat or draw, the championship would go to Signal Iduna Park.
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With just one minute of regular time remaining, Dortmund appeared destined to be crowned champions. Although they were trailing 2-1 in their own game against Mainz, Bayern had conceded an 81st-minute equalizer against Köln, putting Dortmund one point ahead in the standings.
As news of Köln’s goal reached Signal Iduna Park, the crowd erupted in momentary delirium. Fans cheered and embraced each other, knowing that there were only nine minutes left in regular time. Each beat of the drums reverberating throughout the stadium brought Dortmund one second closer to their first title since 2012.
Yet, the fans’ fleeting elation was abruptly crushed eight minutes later when Jamal Musiala fired the ball into the net, restoring Bayern’s lead in the 89th minute.
There were still five minutes of injury time remaining, leaving room for another twist. In the final possible minute, Nicklas Sule scored, making it 2-2, and Dortmund continued to push forward.
However, the final whistle blew shortly after, and Dortmund’s players slumped to the ground, overcome with grief for a title that slipped away from their grasp in the most agonizing manner.
The stadium fell into stunned silence as fans struggled to comprehend the spectacle they had just witnessed. Meanwhile, in Cologne, the traveling Bayern fans celebrated with their team as they lifted the Meisterschale.
Dortmund’s final day began on the worst possible note, conceding two goals within the opening 25 minutes. Mainz took the lead in the 15th minute through Andreas Hanche-Olsen, followed by Sebastian Haller missing a penalty that could have equalized the score. Haller, who had returned to Dortmund in January after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer, endured a challenging moment.
Karim Onisiwo doubled Mainz’s lead five minutes later, deepening Dortmund’s despair. The situation worsened as news arrived from Cologne that Bayern Munich had taken a 1-0 lead after just eight minutes.
Despite the late-game drama, Dortmund failed to overcome the deficit. They will be left to lament numerous missed opportunities throughout their final match of the season.