Bayern Munich throws title up for grabs, dramatic relegation for Hertha BSC

The disaster season for Bayern Munich is almost complete. Due to a defeat against RB Leipzig on the penultimate matchday (1-3), Borussia Dortmund has the title up for grabs in the German Bundesliga.

Borussia Dortmund can take over the lead on Sunday if it wins on a visit to FC Augsburg.

Bayern still had everything in its own hands, in the hunt for its 11th consecutive national title. But a lead at halftime through Serge Gnabry was childishly squandered in the second half. And with it, perhaps, the championship chances.

In the last quarter of the match, everything went wrong for Bayern that could go wrong. Konrad Laimer got the ball at his feet from a counter with some luck and beautifully rammed in the sudden equalizer. Two penalties then fielded the verdict on the record champion.

Christopher Nkunku shot right through the middle after a foul by Benjamin Pavard (1-2), Dominik Szoboszlai pulled off effectively after hands from Noussair Mazraoui (1-3). Like Matthijs de Ligt, the former Ajacied had a starting place, Ryan Gravenberch was still filling in.

A goal in the fourth minute of injury time caused Hertha BSC to be relegated back to the second Bundesliga after ten years in the Bundesliga. The late counter-goal by VfL Bochum meant a 1-1 final score in Berlin and that is not enough for Hertha to stay away from the bottom two spots.

It is the seventh time Hertha has been relegated from the Bundesliga. Only Nurnberg (nine times) and Arminia Bielefeld (eight times) relegated more often.

After the 1-0 from Frenchman Lucas Tousart, who headed in from a corner, supporters in Berlin were full of hope for a long time. They saw Jean-Paul Boëtius come into the lines shortly after Tousart’s goal. With the former Feyenoord player in the ranks, the lead had to be taken.

That worked until the 94th minute. Just moments after both teams had hit the post once, Bochum, where former Vitesse coach Thomas Letsch is at the helm, was awarded a corner kick. It caused everyone in the stadium to hold their breath for a moment.

With Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann forward as a battering ram, Kevin Stöger hurled the ball into the sixteen. Keven Schlotterbeck was completely free and, to the delight of the visitors, was able to sneak in the equalizer. Indeed, Bochum is also still fighting against relegation and thanks to the point remains just in the safe fifteenth spot.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, who fought back tears as he was interviewed after the game, was heartbroken. “I can’t realize it yet. It’s just sad, I love the club. I came here and knew not everything would be rosy,” the midfielder said.

“The fans are angry, disappointed and sad and that’s completely normal,” Boateng said. “I can understand them, I’m a Hertha fan myself.”