bundesliga

2022/23 Bundesliga title race: Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund to Meisterschale on dramatic final day

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Bayern Munich successfully defended their Bundesliga title, edging out Borussia Dortmund on just goal-difference thanks to Jamal Musiala's late winner on Matchday 34.

Bayern Munich
Position: 1st
Points: 71 (34 games)
Goals: 92-38 (+54)

Starting the day two points back from Dortmund, Bayern needed their title rivals to slip at home and claim all three points in Cologne. They were given the perfect start as Kingsley Coman superbly curled them in front after eight minutes and, as word spread of Dortmund trailing early on, Bayern fans were jubilant as their team looked good to retain their title. Leroy Sane had a second ruled out shortly before the break, with Bayern cruising to the trophy at the halfway stage. But Dejan Ljubicic's 81st-minute penalty put the cat amongst the pigeons and swung the title back in Dortmund's favour. Bayern weren't to be denied, though, with Musiala popping up with just a minute to play - sending Bayern's fans delirious in the process.

Click here for the full list of Bundesliga champions

Hans-Joachim Watzke, Spokesperson of the DFL Executive Committee: “Congratulations to FC Bayern München on winning the Bundesliga title. I would like to commend the entire organisation, including the coaching staff and the team, on successfully defending the title after a highly exciting season.”

Read up on the most exciting Bundesliga title races of all time!

Borussia Dortmund
Position: 2nd
Points: 71 (34 games)
Goals: 83-44 (+39)

Dortmund had the title in their hands at the Signal Iduna Park on Matchday 34 but Mainz were quick to settle into their role as party poopers. The visitors took the lead after 15 minutes as Andreas Hanche-Olsen squeezed home from close range, but Dortmund had a near immediate chance to pull themselves level from the spot. Sebastien Haller, though, saw his penalty kick saved by Finn Dahmen and when Karim Onisiwo made it 2-0 soon after, the hosts were seeing their title hopes vanish right in front of them. Raphaël Guerreiro pulled one back in the second half to give Dortmund hope and Niklas Süle equalised deep into injury-time but it was too little, too late.

Borussia Dortmund's players were left heartbroken at the final whistle. - Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images

Click here for the full Bundesliga standings!

The title race on Matchday 34 - as it happened

0 - 0

(0 - 0)

Dortmund
FINAL
Bayern
Friendly
2022/23 title race
2022/23 title race Matchday 34
camera-photo

Bayern sneak home on final day

Well, it was as tense as we expected. Starting the day two points back from Dortmund, Bayern had to win and they duly delivered thanks to Musiala's 89th-minute effort. As for Dortmund, they managed to get back to 2-2 and thought they were champions when Cologne levelled against the men from Munich, but they came up just short. Now, we can all breathe.
90'
+ 6

All over, Bayern are champions!

Well, it was about as dramatic as it gets on the final day of the season. Dortmund had the title in their hands but they've thrown it away after managing just a 2-2 draw with Mainz. Bayern retain their title thanks to Musiala's late goal, which seals the championship by the barest of margins thanks to their superior goal difference. Dortmund players are distraught, Bayern's are jubilant.
90'
+ 6

Niklas Süle

GOAL!

2:2
Niklas Süle
90'
+ 4

Goal disallowed!

Haller thinks he's finally got his goal but it's ruled out for offside. The title looks to be staying in Munich.
90'
+ 1

Five minutes added on

Dortmund have five minutes to rescue their title hopes.
90'

Bayern back in front

He's been on the pitch just four minutes but Musiala may well have just won the title for his side. Bayern are ahead and leapfrog Dortmund. We're now in injury-time, with five minutes added on in Cologne. Dortmund need two goals.
89'
Jamal Musiala
85'

Five minutes to go

This is going right to the wire. Bayern need another goal or their grip on the Meisterschale will end.
81'

Cologne level

Ljubicic converts his penalty to level things in Cologne. The title is back in Dortmund's favour!
81'
Dejan Ljubicic
80'

Penalty Cologne...

Another twist?
77'

Dahmen denies Haller

Surely there is at least another Dortmund goal coming. This time Haller takes aim but Dahmen, who has been superb today, is up to the task.
75'

Over from Reus!

Another big chance at the back post as Reus heads towards goal but he can only send the ball over. Dortmund are throwing everything at Mainz now. We could be in for some serious drama if they get another one back soon.
72'

Double Bayern change

Tuchel brings on added experience in the shape of Goretzka and Choupo-Moting. A thoroughly professional job being done by Bayern currently.
69'

Dortmund pull one back

Finally, Dortmund are on the scoresheet thanks to Guerreiro's effort. They need two more and 20 minutes to get them. Game on.
camera-photo

A penny for your thoughts, Edin...

63'

Coaches in sync

There are changes in both games, with Cancelo on for Müller to sure things up for Bayern. In Dortmund, teenager Duranville makes his debut and Reyna replaces Malen. Time running out for Dortmund.
60'

Haller...

... puts it wide! The Dortmund striker sneaks in at the back post and has an empty net to tap into but he's put off by a jumping colleague in front of him and can only poke wide. Big, big chance goes begging.
55'

No way through for Dortmund

It's hard to see Dortmund scoring one goal, let alone three at the minute. They're huffing and puffing but lacking real quality in the final third. Mainz look the far more threatening side whenever they make forays forward and they almost have a third as Onisiwo strikes the post.
46'

Moukoko on at the break

Young striker Moukoko has replaced Wolf at the break which will mean a slight reshuffle for Dortmund. They have to go for it, and Moukoko will be desperate to help inspire what would be a remarkable turnaround.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 4

Bayern top at halfway stage

The whistle goes in Cologne, where Bayern are 1-0 up and headed for the title. In Dortmund, the hosts go into the break requiring a huge turnaround. They need to score at least three times to become champions.
Half-time
45'

Goal disallowed

VAR intervenes and Bayern's second is ruled out for a handball in the build-up. It remains 1-0.
45'

Bayern double their lead

Sane races through and applies a lovely finish to make it 2-0 Bayern. Or does he...
45'

Leroy Sané

GOAL!

0:2
Leroy Sané
40'

Reus on for Adeyemi

Unfortunately for Adeyemi, he's picked up an injury and can't continue. On comes club captain Reus. Can he inspire a dramatic comeback for his team?
40'

Yellow card

camera-photo

Man of the hour

As it stands, Kingsley Coman (r.) has Bayern headed to the title once again and the defending champions do look comfortable in Cologne. Dortmund, meanwhile, are struggling to find a way back in the game.
camera-photo

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words...

24'

Onisiwo makes it 2-0

Things have gone from bad to worse for Dortmund. Their defence is left exposed and Karim Onisiwo pops up to add a second for Mainz. Can BVB salvage anything from this or are their title hopes already over?
24'
Karim Onisiwo
19'

Haller misses!

Sebastien Haller steps up to take the penalty but his effort is saved by Finn Dahmen. Things not going Dortmund's way so far.
18'

Penalty Dortmund

After a consultation with the touchside screen, Dortmund have a penalty and a chance to get back into the game...
15'

Dortmund behind

Things are not going to plan for Dortmund. They're behind thanks to Andreas Hanche-Olsen's effort and Bayern are on course for the title as it stands.
8'

Bayern make first move

Kingsley Coman cuts inside from the left and lets fly a beauty to make it 1-0 Bayern, With Dortmund currently 0-0 against Mainz, Bayern are top on goal-difference.
8'
Kingsley Coman
7'

Bright starts in both games

Both Dortmund and Bayern have been lively enough so far, while Cologne have also had an early sighter. It's as tense as we expected.
Kick-off!
1'

Dortmund underway

BVB have also started, just a nudge later than Bayern. Here we go...

Off we go

Bayern are up and running in Cologne. No turning back now!
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: BVBees take over in Dortmund

Does this mean something?

Five minutes to go!

Here we go, it all comes down to this. Strap yourselves in as things may get bumpy...
0:21
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Take a sneak peek into Bayern's dressing room

Familiar faces behind BVB

As you can see below, there are some very interested parties watching from afar today. Kagawa, of course, was part of the BVB side that won the title last, while Haaland played with the majority of this same side last season.

More on those teams

In Cologne, Joao Cancelo, Leon Goretzka and Jamal Musiala drop to the Bayern bench. That means Dayot Upamecano, Ryan Gravenberch and Leroy Sane all come in. As for Dortmund, they have Jude Bellingham among the substitutes following injury, with Raphaël Guerreiro continuing in midfield. Otherwise, BVB are very much as you'd expect.

How Dortmund line up

Kobel - Wolf, Süle, Hummels (c), Ryerson - Brandt, Can, Guerreiro - Malen, Haller, Adeyemi

How Bayern line up

Sommer - Pavard, Upamecano, de Ligt, Mazraoui - Kimmich, Gravenberch - Sane, Müller (c), Coman - Gnabry
0:30
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Stage is set at the Signal Iduna Park

0:18
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Dortmund fans out in force

camera-photo

Terzic vs. Tuchel

The two teams' social media admins are clearly up and about, with rallying calls sent out to the world already this morning. Two men who will be rallying the troops later are Terzic and Tuchel. Both are looking for their first Bundesliga titles, in what would be statement league wins for their respective tenures.
1:45
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: EA Sports predicts

Take a look at how the final day played out in a FIFA 23 simulation...

Set the alarms

As we begin to settle in for a day high on drama, it's worth doing a little housekeeping. Team news will drop at approximately 2.30pm CEST, an hour prior to our 3.30pm kick-off. We'll be here to take you through all the action as we see how the chips fall and, if you're in the Bundesliga App, you can click the little alarm bell to turn on notifications and not miss a kick of any of today's games.

Can Dortmund cope with the pressure?

On paper, the task is straightforward for Dortmund; beat Mainz, win the title. But how will they cope with the pressure, one Bayern are far more accustomed to dealing with? And that pressure has been ramped up this week with a title parade already planned and the mayor stating: “We’re assuming the team won’t let it slip on Saturday.” Bayern will be hoping their rivals are somewhat jumping the gun.

Here. We. Go.

It's D-Day in the title race, with one of Dortmund or Bayern to later be crowned 2022/23 Bundesliga champions. Strap yourselves in, this will be quite the ride...
camera-photo

It all comes down to this

3:00
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: The most exciting title conclusions of all time

Neck and neck at the very end of 2022/23, Dortmund and Bayern are not the first teams to take the Bundesliga title race right to the wire. Could we be in for yet more historic drama this year?
3:47
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Analysing the top two's attacks

Two title-chasing teams in search of a final matchday win – which, of course, can only be achieved by scoring goals. Ahead of the deciding shootout on the last weekend of the season, we can analyse the contenders’ comparative attacking strengths on current form.
0:53
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: The 2022/23 title race so far

Check out a visual of how Dortmund and Bayern have swapped positions in the Bundesliga table this season ahead of the decisive fixtures on Matchday 34.

All the title action in one place

It's up to you how you follow the title race on Saturday. You can choose to follow our individual Dortmund and Bayern blogs as they take on Mainz and Cologne respectively, or you can keep across all the thrills and spills from both games in one place through this live blog.

A final day battle for the title!

Welcome along to coverage of the final matchday of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season as Borussia Dortmund look to hold off Bayern Munich and claim a sixth Bundesliga crown at the expense of the 10-time defending champions.