It was the most exciting title race in ten years but unlike 2009 when VfL Wolfsburg were crowned champions this year ended in more predictable fashion with Bayern Munich ultimately winning the title for the seventh time in a row. But while the championship ended in predictable fashion, the league was anything but predictable this season.
At the very top, Bayern and Borussia Dortmund offered an intriguing title race. At one point, Bayern Munich were nine points behind their title rivals Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund, however, collapsed in dramatic fashion and from February onwards Bayern Munich turned the nine-point deficit into a four-point advantage.
In fact, when Bayern lost to Bayer Leverkusen on February 2, the race was over. No team had come back from a seven-point deficit following matchday 20 to win the title. Furthermore, the club seemed to be torn apart with doubts developing whether head coach Niko Kovac was the right man for the job.
Those doubts, in fact, seem to have persisted and some news sources in Germany have even reported that the head coach could be fired even if he wins the double -- championship and cup -- at the end of the seasons. Those rumours have been vehemently denied by CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on Friday.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 18: The team of Bayern Munich pose with the trophy following the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Allianz Arena on May 18, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
GettyNonetheless, the constant debates over Kovac's future and the rebuild at Bayern was a constant storyline throughout this title race. Perhaps it could even be considered a small miracle that Kovac, despite all the opposition within the club and the noise generated by the media managed to win the title in the end.
Bayern, in fact, did so in convincing fashion. Their challengers Borussia Dortmund, despite their collapse, played a strong second half of the season collecting 34 points. But Bayern were an unstoppable machine and played their second best second half of the season in history collecting an unbelievable 42 points out of 17 games.
Heading into the final matchday, Bayern knew that they just needed a draw to collect the title. In fact, the Bavarians could have wrapped it up one week prior with a win over RB Leipzig.
The Red Bulls, however, held Bayern to a 0-0 draw at the Red Bull Arena -- a vital match in the light that the two clubs will meet next Sunday in the DFB Pokal Final in Berlin.
Hence, it had to be done this weekend. At home against Eintracht Frankfurt, Kovac's former club. Frankfurt were conceived as a difficult opponent. The Eagles, after all, needed the three points to qualify for the Champions League and, on top of that, managed to beat Bayern in the cup final last year.
Frankfurt, however, only resisted for about 50 minutes. Bayern had taken the lead in the fourth minute, but Sébastien Haller equalised in the 50th minute. But three minutes later David Alaba made it 2-1, and Bayern would eventually smash Frankfurt and romp to a 5-1 victory to seal the title.
"We've done great things," Kovac said to Sky after the final whistle. "It was a great day for me personally. I'm very very happy. But we want more," he added. "The coach has full backing and support from me," Hasan Salihamidžić said in Bild am Sonntag today.
As for his personal status? "I have first-hand information in the background. And so I assume that I will continue." Whether that will be the case remains to be seen.
Two Bayern greats, however, did say goodbye on Saturday. Frank Ribéry and Arjen Robben defined an era at Bayern. Ribéry joined the club in 2007 and Robben in 2009. Together they won the Champions League and were the driving force behind the unprecedented seven titles in a row.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 18: Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Allianz Arena on May 18, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
GettyBoth played a big role in their final match. Brought on after Bayern's third goal, scored by Renato Sanches in the 58th, Ribéry scored Bayern's fourth in the 73rd and Robben made it 5-1 in the 78th minute. It was a fitting end to a fantastic era.
For Ribéry, in particular, the Bundesliga title was a big milestone. He has now won 23 trophies with Bayern Munich, the joint-most along with Oliver Kahn.
Together with Bastian Schweinsteiger, now Chicago Fire, and Philipp Lahm, now retired, they were part of a team that one day will rank among the great Bayern side of the 1970s. With both players now leaving the club, it is now an end of an era for Bayern. But also the dawn of a new one?
Bayern have already started the rebuild under head coach Kovac this season, and the Croat believes that he will now be in charge of phase two. Bayern have already signed world champions Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart) and Lucas Hernández (Atlético Madrid) for a combined €135 million.
More signings are expected this summer. We've reached a limit of 80 million, and I don't think we'll beat that on any further transfers," President Uli Hoeneß said. The rebuild is being driven forward. We brought two or three players end we'll not stop at that for sure. Hasan will be active again after the Pokal final," he added.
The rebuild, therefore, continues at Bayern. A rebuild that was expected from their challengers Borussia Dortmund this season.
In fact, it was supposed to be a transition year for Borussia Dortmund, and nobody expected the Black and Yellows to challenge for the title this season. Hence, even though some have claimed this to be an epic collapse the final result is not that surprising given the way Dortmund have handled their unlikely rise at the beginning of the season.
Throughout the first half of the season official, including head coach Lucien Favre, continued to point out that this team will need time. In fact, had Dortmund's season been reverse, an inconsistent Hinrunde and a fabulous Rückrunde, no one would have raised an eyebrow.
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - MAY 18: Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund at Borussia-Park on May 18, 2019 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images)
GettyHence, club officials stressed that this season was more than they expected. At the same time, there was still a sense of disappointment.
“Of course we are disappointed,” head coach Lucien Favre said after the game. “We are disappointed, but we also collected 76 points this season that is impressive,” he added
"There was some hope after Haller made it 1-1," BVB captain Marco Reus said after the game. "The club at the top at the end of a season deserves it. So congratulation Bayern."
“We are disappointed,” Reus said. “But we also made a big step forward this season. Perhaps in the key games, we lacked the greed to make the final step,” he added.
“I don’t think we wasted an opportunity here,” Reus said. “Pushing for the title is always difficult,” he added. Did Dortmund waste an opportunity here? They might have, on the other hand, Bayern played a fantastic second half of the season and with 34 points were solid and with 76 points overall BVB have the third best overall point total in history.
In the end, it simply was not enough for this still very green Dortmund side. But was it also a lost opportunity?
One journalist pointed out that the big loser was the Bundesliga with Bayern winning yet another title. The reality, however, is very different. The final day of the Bundesliga season, after all, was more exciting than it was the case in most other European top leagues.
At the very top, Bayern and Dortmund were battling for the title until the final day. But their opponents were also involved in decision day with both Borussia Mönchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt still harbouring hopes to qualify for the Champions League.
MOENCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund at Borussia-Park on May 18, 2019 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Bongarts/Getty Images)
GettyEintracht Frankfurt, in fact, could finish as high as fourth but also as low as eighth. It would have been a disastrous end to the season for the Eagles to finish outside of Europe and it was only thanks to a late turnaround 4-2 victory by Mainz over Hoffenheim that Frankfurt secured seventh place and a spot in the Europa League qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Gladbach had a poor Rückrunde but somehow found themselves in fourth place heading into the final matchday. Dismantled by Dortmund, however, they had to let their Rhineland rivals Bayer Leverkusen, who defeated Hertha Berlin, pass on the final matchday.
The final matchday had plenty of drama in what was an exciting season overall. Hence, even though the Bundesliga had a predictable outcome with Bayern lifting their seventh title in a row the season overall was anything but predictable and with the emergence of RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund's added experience can look ahead to another eventful campaign when the Bundesliga kicks off its 2019/20 season.
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