Bayern Munich finally got their hands back on the Bundesliga trophy on Saturday after capping the season with another record-breaking attacking display.
Harry Kane scored his fourth hat-trick of the campaign as Bayern crushed 1. FC Cologne 5-1 in the final round of the season. Kane finished with 36 league goals, moving within five of the Bundesliga single-season record set by Robert Lewandowski in 2020-21. Tom Bischof and Nicolas Jackson were also on target for the Bavarian side.
Bayern ended the campaign with an astonishing 122 league goals, shattering the previous Bundesliga record of 101 set by the legendary 1971-72 Bayern team led by Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. Midfielder Leon Goretzka, who is preparing to leave the club after eight years, scored the milestone goal that pushed Bayern past the old mark with five games still remaining.
“We have a great group, a great togetherness, and celebrating success together is fantastic,” Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said while celebrating his second league title with the club.
Apart from Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten domestic campaign in 2024, Bayern has dominated the Bundesliga era since Borussia Dortmund won consecutive titles in 2011 and 2012.
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French winger Michael Olise was named Bundesliga Player of the Season after contributing 15 goals and 22 assists in 32 matches. The award added to a festive atmosphere as Bayern celebrated another championship in front of their supporters.
Although Vincent Kompany’s side had already secured the title four rounds earlier, Saturday marked the first opportunity for the players to officially lift the famous “salad bowl” trophy. Club captain Manuel Neuer, who recently extended his contract by another year, handed the trophy to Goretzka, triggering scenes of celebration with confetti raining down and Queen’s anthem “We Are The Champions” echoing around the stadium.
The customary beer showers soon followed as players and staff emptied giant pitchers over one another on the field. Defender Dayot Upamecano soaked Kompany before the drenched coach eventually made his way to celebrate with family members on the sidelines.
“I’d say today it’s fine to celebrate a little,” midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. “Then we have a week to recover before focusing fully on the cup final.” Bayern will face defending champions VfB Stuttgart in next Saturday’s German Cup final at Olympiastadion Berlin.
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