A white season for Bayern Munich would necessarily have rhymed with an earthquake. Nationally sovereign to the point of claiming the last ten championship titles, the Bavarians had before this final day imagined the worst: losing their crown. Off to a bad start and for a long time in the wheel of Union Berlin and SC Freiburg, the Bavarians were not as imperial as usual. Not having replaced Robert Lewandowski numerically turned out to be a huge mistake. The integration of Sadio Mané has been poorly managed and the management of Thomas Müller’s playing time is still a thorny issue in Bavaria. Finally, the ousting of Julian Nagelsmann in favor of Thomas Tuchel at the end of March was a gamble on the part of the leaders. This exploded cocktail had everything to look like a disaster… But once again, Bayern Münich believed in it and by winning at the end of the match against Cologne (1-2), they took advantage of the BVB draw to lift an 11th consecutive title. The hegemony continues…
In 2008-2009, the team was champion of the 3.Bundesliga, the third national level. Ten years later, the Köpenick club, a working-class district of East Berlin, invited itself into the elite for the first time in its history. A great feat for the Union which, since then, has only confirmed. 11th for their first season in the Bundesliga, 7th then 5th, the Steelworkers this time grabbed a qualification in the Champions League thanks to their success against Werder Bremen (1-0). A huge consecration for a well-structured team, which does not seek the light and which remains faithful to its principles. The only team undefeated at home this season, the team formed by Swiss technician Urs Fischer is generous in effort and formidable from set pieces. Progress is not about to end and the question is on everyone’s lips: how far will the Union go?
Arriving at the bedside of a sad Bayer Leverkusen on October 8, Xabi Alonso gave relief to a season that was sorely lacking. 17th in the standings after 8 days, the Werkself players have made a tremendous comeback and end the season in an honorable 6th place, synonymous with qualification for the Europa League Conference. Playful and articulated in 3-4-3, her training has hung several great teams on her list: Bayern Munich (2-1), RB Leipzig (2-0) or Union Berlin (5-0) . The course in the Europa League (elimination in the semi-final against AS Roma) pumped energy and the machine ran out of steam somewhat at the end of the season. A promising first experience for the Basque.
Sheraldo Becker arrived at Union Berlin when the club was moving up to the Bundesliga. His name is already known to regular followers of the championship because the Surinamese even has nearly 100 games in the top flight. After exercises spent on one side or in the shadow of other imposing offensive elements (Max Kruse, Taiwo Awoniyi), the winger placed in the axis took on a new dimension. Symbol of the exceptional season of the Union, he will have been the spearhead of the Berlin attack. His speed and dribbling skills have greatly relieved his people and his statistical record is brilliant: Sheraldo Becker ends the season with 11 goals and 7 assists.
Still in the 2.Bundesliga last season with Werder Bremen, the German striker took a nice revenge. At the dawn of his thirties, he was dubbed by his peers eleven years after his debut in the elite. If seasons truncated by injuries or spent in the second division slowed his development, Niclas Füllkrug then finished 3rd in the ranking of the top scorers in the Bundesliga in 2027-2018 (14 goals with Hanover). One of the only brilliant strokes of his career before this fabulous 2022-2023 exercise which completely changed his dimension. If Niclas Füllkrug was selected for the first time with the German national team to play in the World Cup in Qatar (1 goal) and has since become the starting number 9 for the Mannschaft, he owes a lot to his 16 goals in the Bundesliga . His Torschützenkönig title shared with Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) is well deserved.
After making his mark at FC Nantes, Randal Kolo Muani went to Eintracht Frankfurt. At the end of the contract, he had chosen his future destination very early on and joining the Eagles turned out to be wise. The marriage immediately worked and the child of Villepinte (Seine Saint-Denis) enchanted the city of Hesse throughout the season. Second scorer (15) and best passer (12) in the championship, Randal Kolo Muani carried Eintracht at arm’s length, very disappointing in the standings (7th). His high-class goals, his penalties caused in shambles and his very high rate of successful dribbles reflect well the XXL season of the 24-year-old player.
At only 19 years old, Jude Bellingham symbolizes maturity. The Borussia Dortmund midfield boss has hovered over the Bundesliga with ease. Despite a slight slack at the start of spring, the Englishman once again showed that he was essential to his team. Always so fighter in the middle of the train, tireless raiser, the native of Birmingham even added a nice string to his bow: the goals. With 8 goals in 31 games, Bellingham was crucial in BVB’s final sprint. His departure now seems inevitable, with the Premier League and Real Madrid courting him. Injured for the last match, his absence greatly penalized his team. He leaves as a boss, only the outcome will leave him with a bitter taste.
The 2011-2012 season goes back forever for fans at Signal Iduna Park. At the time, Jürgen Klopp and his players had flown over the Bundesliga from A to Z, retaining their crown acquired a year earlier. 11 years later, their successors were all found but they stumbled on the final day. They will have believed in it until the end but in the end, it seems that the law of the strongest is always the best… Borussia Dortmund came close to ending Bavarian hegemony, a fatal setback against Mainz shattered the dream of a whole city. Edin Terzic’s men have not often taken the lead this season but had taken the reins of the championship at the best time, it was believed. Specialist in the art of collapsing in crucial moments, the BVB has once again wavered. If his collective shone over time, the mind faltered at the end. Bayern can celebrate their 11th consecutive crown.
By dint of flirting with relegation, it hung in his face. Here is Hertha Berlin officially back in the 2.Bundesliga, ten years after its last stay in the antechamber of German football. Already ric rac in 2020-2021 (two points from the first relegation) and play-off last season, Lucas Tousart’s club was already sliding dangerously towards this disastrous fate. With a quality workforce but a sports policy totally out of ideas, Hertha pays for its mistakes. With 7 wins, 8 draws but 19 losses, the players of Pal Dardai (back at the bedside of the club for the 3rd time in 4 years), relegation is logical. The Olympiastadion in Berlin should ring hollow next season in the 2.Bundesliga if the club is not demoted administratively due to financial problems.
The stupor had been strong when a tumor in the testicles had been diagnosed in Sébastien Haller last summer, a few days after joining Borussia Dortmund. Coming with the aim of making Erling Haaland forget (86 goals in 89 games), the player trained at AJ Auxerre was quickly adopted by BVB fans. Adored for his courage and determination during the treatment of his illness, the striker has been enormously supported by the club. Returning to competition in January, he initially struggled to get back on his feet. His lack of pace was not a real problem, Dortmund slaying their opponents one by one in the dead of winter. It was in the final sprint that the Ivorian international made the powder speak with 5 goals and 2 assists in 3 games. However, his missed penalty against Mainz on the last day (2-2) deprived the BVB of the title. This failure may haunt him for a long time.
