Bayern Munich crowned champions of Germany after Leverkusen slip-up

Bayern Munich were officially crowned champions of Germany on Sunday, reclaiming their place at the top of the Bundesliga after Bayer Leverkusen slipped to a dramatic 2-2 draw against SC Freiburg.

It was a conclusion that felt both inevitable and chaotic, as the title changed hands not on the pitch in Munich, but hundreds of kilometers away in Freiburg, where Leverkusen’s late comeback was just not enough.

The title race, though still alive in theory prior to the weekend, took a significant turn on Saturday when Bayern had a chance to secure the championship at home against RB Leipzig. All eyes were on the Allianz Arena, where a win would have wrapped up the title with matches to spare. Bayern seemed in control for large portions of the match but conceded a costly goal in stoppage time, leading to a 2-2 draw that stunned the home crowd. The result not only delayed the trophy celebrations but had immediate off-field consequences. The Bayern squad, who had planned a celebratory trip to Ibiza to unwind and mark their success, were instead told to cancel their flights. The message from the club’s leadership was clear: the job was not done yet.

But they wouldn’t have to wait long.

Just 24 hours later, their fate was decided not by their own performance, but by that of their closest rivals. Bayer Leverkusen, needing a win to keep their slim title hopes alive, traveled to Freiburg and started disastrously. Despite fielding a strong team that included the ever-reliable Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen looked out of sync from the first whistle. Freiburg took the lead shortly before halftime through a well-struck effort from Maximilian Eggestein, and minutes after the restart, disaster struck for the visitors as Piero Hincapié inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, making it 2-0.

At that point, the title was all but Bayern’s. Leverkusen fought back valiantly, with Wirtz giving them a glimmer of hope by scoring in the 83rd minute. The equalizer came in stoppage time when Jonathan Tah rose above the defense to head home, leveling the match at 2-2. But despite a frantic push in the final seconds, Leverkusen couldn’t find a winner. As the final whistle blew, Bayern’s players, watching from home, erupted in celebration. The Bundesliga shield was heading back to Munich.

With just two games remaining in the season, Bayern now hold an unassailable eight-point lead. It marks a triumphant debut campaign for manager Vincent Kompany, who becomes a title-winner in his very first year at the helm of the German giants. The 39-year-old Belgian had arrived at Bayern last summer with high expectations but also considerable skepticism. The club’s first choices for the job including Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel, and others had either declined or fallen through. Kompany, at the time managing Burnley in the English Championship, was a surprising appointment for many observers.

But he has answered every doubt. Under his guidance, Bayern rediscovered their structure, tactical flexibility, and mental edge. While their campaigns in the DFB Pokal and Champions League ended earlier than hoped a round-of-16 exit in the cup and a quarterfinal elimination in Europe the domestic title is no small feat, especially considering the competition from a Leverkusen side that just a year ago had stormed to the title without losing a single match.

For Kompany, the title win also represents a significant personal milestone. As a player, he was a serial winner with Manchester City. Now, as a coach, he has begun building a similar reputation. His Bayern team has shown moments of brilliance this season, including dominant displays against Dortmund and Leipzig, and a newfound resilience in difficult away matches something that had plagued previous Bayern sides in transition.

For Leverkusen, meanwhile, the result is a sobering reminder of how difficult it is to stay on top. Their unbeaten championship season under Xabi Alonso last year was one of the great underdog stories in modern European football. This time around, they have had to play the role of the chaser, and despite a solid campaign, a few key slip-ups including the draw in Freiburg have cost them dearly.

Xabi Alonso’s future is now a hot topic. The Spaniard has been linked with several major clubs, most notably Real Madrid, where he enjoyed success as a player and remains highly regarded. With Carlo Ancelotti nearing the end of his time in Madrid, many believe Alonso could be the natural successor. Whether he stays at Leverkusen or moves on could shape the Bundesliga landscape for next season.

Back in Munich, however, celebrations are in full swing. After the brief setback against Leipzig, the champagne has finally been uncorked. For Bayern’s players, the canceled Ibiza trip might now be rescheduled only this time with the title firmly secured. And for Vincent Kompany, the journey is just beginning. With one major trophy in the cabinet and a full summer ahead to reinforce and refine the squad, Bayern Munich are back where they believe they belong at the very top of German football.