Bayern Munich clinch 11th consecutive Bundesliga championship as Dortmund stumble in thrilling season finale

 Bayern Munich have secured their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title with a thrilling finish on the last day of the season. Dortmund, who entered the decisive final match with a two-point lead over Bayern, crumbled under pressure and settled for a draw against Mainz at home.

Dortmund's hopes were dashed as Mainz took a two-goal lead in the disastrous first half, with forward Sebastian Haller missing a penalty. In contrast, Bayern took an early lead within 10 minutes against Cologne, courtesy of winger Kingsley Coman.

A late penalty converted by Cologne's Dejan Ljubicic added late drama, with the title seemingly going Dortmund's way. However, Bayern's Jamal Musiala scored in the 89th minute, securing a memorable 2-1 victory.

Although Dortmund managed to equalize in stoppage time through Niklas Sule, they had little time left to chase a winning goal. The final whistle confirmed Bayern as the winners of their 33rd German top-flight title.

This season has been turbulent for Bayern, with a mid-season managerial change. However, the arrival of Thomas Tuchel in March guided the team to yet another league triumph, extending their decade-long dominance.

During the second half of the season, Bayern faced challenges that hinted at the potential end of their reign. The departure of manager Julian Nagelsmann in March, coupled with their exit from the Champions League quarterfinals to Manchester City, shifted their focus solely to the league after being knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by Freiburg at the same stage.

Off the field, Bayern encountered mishaps such as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer breaking his leg while skiing in December and the fallout from the departure of goalkeeping coach Toni Tapalovic in January. Additionally, star signing Sadio Mane was sidelined for a game in April following an altercation with teammate Leroy Sane after their first-leg defeat to City on April 11.

Even on the pitch, Bayern faced struggles. In their second-to-last game of the season, a stunning 3-1 home defeat to RB Leipzig dealt a significant blow to their title hopes, allowing Dortmund to enter the final day with a two-point advantage.

However, with Dortmund faltering under pressure, Bayern seized the opportunity in the final minutes of
the season to secure the championship and maintain their dominance in German football.