By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The 2024-25 Bundesliga title has been decided, with FC Bayern München declared champions for a record-extending 33rd time. With an unassailable lead at the top of the standings with just two games to go, the Bavarian giants can take immense pride from a job superbly done and will look to Saturday’s home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach as one to savour in front of their own fans.
Bayern versus Gladbach was once one of the Bundesliga’s unmissable rivalries, with both sides regularly battling it out for domestic glory in the 1970s. On Matchday 33 this weekend, the stakes might not be as high for both teams, but neither will give an inch as they seek a solid ending to the campaign.
In fact, with Gerardo Seoane’s ninth-placed Foals holding the slenderest of hopes of a top-six finish, striker Tim Kleindienst and his teammates have extra incentive to try to dampen the party atmosphere as Munich and the Allianz Arena prepare to receive the Meisterschale and bid farewell to the legendary Thomas Müller.
Outgoing champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen will finish as runners-up this term regardless of what happens in their final matches of the campaign. However, Xabi Alonso’s men – who equalled Bayern’s record for unbeaten away games in a 2-2 draw at SC Freiburg last time out – will be up for the challenge that a visit from Borussia Dortmund always brings. In a fixture that has never disappointed in terms of goals and free-flowing football, the latest instalment of Bayer 04 versus Dortmund has the added interest of the latter’s aims on UEFA Champions League qualification.
Firing under coach Niko Kovač, BVB have won their last three top-flight games, scoring 10 goals, and are unbeaten in four matches in the Bundesliga. It has all led to a Black-and Yellow surge up the standings, with Dortmund now in fifth place and just one point behind Freiburg in golden-ticket territory. Coming up against the likes of wizard Florian Wirtz and star striker Patrik Schick at the BayArena on Sunday will certainly be a test of Dortmund’s resolve as they look to end the season on a high.
On the same day, Eintracht Frankfurt would confirm a third-place finish if they were to take maximum points at home to FC St. Pauli, who themselves have designs on Bundesliga safety. “We’ve definitely qualified for Europe, which is a good achievement with two games left to play,” Eagles’ coach Dino Toppmöller said after last week’s 1-1 draw against 1. FSV Mainz 05. “Now we want to take the final step against St. Pauli.” That final step is securing
Eintracht’s passage through to the Champions League, but with opponents St. Pauli aware that a win – and possibly even a draw, depending on results elsewhere – would secure the Boys in Brown Bundesliga football next term, the battle at the Deutsche Bank Park will be intense.
And speaking of the relegation battle, Holstein Kiel appear to be the team with momentum,with the second-from bottom Storks winning their last two games and going unbeaten in three to keep 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 within touching distance in the play-off spot. Hosting the highly-ambitious Freiburg on Saturday will bring its own difficulties for Marcel Rapp’s men, who will hope Alexander Bernhardsson and Shuto Machino – if fit – will be at their goalscoring best once more.
There are several permutations that could confirm VfL Bochum 1848’s relegation at the weekend, but a win for Dieter Hecking’s side at home to Mainz is not one of them, meaning the basement boys will be going all out for three points with the 05ers in town on the same afternoon that Heidenheim are at 1. FC Union Berlin.
SV Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig have other things to worry about, with the pair keen to confirm European football in whatever guise when they meet at the Weserstadion on Saturday. With VfL Wolfsburg and TSG Hoffenheim getting the Matchday 33 action underway on Friday, the stage is set for a super penultimate weekend of footballing drama and entertainment in the Bundesliga.