Jamal Musiala’s late strike gave Bayern Munich an 11th Bundesliga title in a row on an extraordinary final day of the season.
Borussia Dortmund fluffed their lines, drawing 2-2 at home to Mainz, and it left them needing a huge favour from Cologne, who hosted Thomas Tuchel’s side. They looked like getting one too, with the match still level heading into the final stages, but Musiala struck in the 89th minute and it proved to be a title-winning goal.
Jurgen Klopp was in the Dortmund dugout the last time they lifted the trophy, with Bayern crowned German champions every year since then, and the title race was in their hands heading into the final round of fixtures of this campaign.
Bayern’s defeat to RB Leipzig last week left Dortmund two points clear at the top of the table and knowing that victory at home to Mainz would be enough for them to win the title, regardless of what Bayern did against Cologne.
It was never likely to be comfortable, despite Dortmund going into the match on a run of 11 wins on the bounce at home, and so it proved. Mainz took the lead through Andreas Hanche-Olsen and Karim Onisiwo then doubled the lead before the break, after Sebastien Haller had missed from the spot.
Bayern meanwhile lead 1-0 through Kingsley Coman at half-time, and their goal difference advantage left Dortmund needing three second-half goals to keep their dream alive if no positive news came from Cologne.
Raphael Guerreiro provided one of those goals with 20 minutes remaining, and Dortmund were propelled back to the top of the table when Dejan Ljubicic converted his penalty for Cologne, leaving Bayern with just under ten minutes to save their season.
Leroy Sane missed a huge chance as he was played clean through, but seconds later Musiala ensured that was swiftly forgotten as he cut inside onto his right foot and fired a brilliant finish into the far corner to give Bayern a 2-1 lead.
The players crowded around a phone on the pitch as the final whistle went in Cologne, tuning in just in time to see Niklas Sule equalise for Dortmund in the 95th-minute, but there was no time for a winner as Bayern’s dominance of German football survived an almighty scare.
