"Everyone wanted the Bundesliga to be exciting, and now it is. That's what football fans want, and they'll get plenty of it." Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's point of view is nothing if not widely-held as the race for the championship title goes to the last matchday for the first time in many years. fcbayern.com looks back on the most remarkable and thrilling finales.
2001: Four minutes in May
Bayern were three points clear of Schalke, but the Ruhr valley outfit had the better goal difference before Matchday 34 of the 2000/01 season. A defeat away to Hamburg had to be avoided. Everybody expected a goalless draw, but when Sergej Barbarez put the hosts in front in the 90th minute it looked like Bayern had squandered the title. Schalke's match was over, the Royal Blues had achieved a clear-cut win. Everybody at the Parkstadion thought the match in Hamburg was over after the goal. But the final whistle had not sounded in the north, and Patrik Andersson's stoppage-time free-kick levelled the scores. The celebrations in Schalke were over, the championship shield remaining in Munich. It was one of the most emotional deciders in Bundesliga history.
2000: Thanks to Unterhaching
In the previous year Bayern benefited from a slip-up by the leaders. The Bavarians entertained Werder Bremen at the Olympic stadium, did what they had to do with aplomb and won 3-1. However, leaders Bayer Leverkusen had to slip at Haching's Sportpark for Bayern to win the title. And so it happened.
Unterhaching turned in a strong display and took the lead when Michael Ballack put through his own goal in the 20th minute. Everybody at the Olympic Stadium dreamed of the title, and when the second goal by Markus Oberleitner did the rounds it was certain. Unterhaching beat Leverkusen, with Bayern overtaking Bayer and Stefan Effenberg hoisting the championship shield into the Munich sky.
1986: Kutzop hits the woodwork
The Weserstadion was the venue of the showdown to the 1985/86 campaign. Leaders Bremen entertained pursuers Bayern on Matchday 33. Bayern were two points short, with two points awarded for a win back then. The contest was goalless when the referee awarded a penalty to Werder in the 89th minute. A victory would have meant the championship title for Bremen. Up stepped Michael Kutzop, Jean-Marie Pfaff picking the wrong corner, but Kutzop hit the post, missing the only penalty of his Bundesliga career. The contest ended goalless, and Bremen did not recover. On the last matchday they fell 2-1 to VfB Stuttgart, while Bayern thrashed Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Olympic Stadium and clinched the title on goal difference.
1972: Perfect premiere at the Olympic Stadium
A textbook showdown: FC Bayern entertained FC Schalke at Munich's newly opened Olympic Stadium on Matchday 34 of the 1971/72 season. Schalke were only one point short of league leaders FCB. Buoyed by their new home, the Bavarians left no doubt as to who would win, going two up in the first half and winning 5-1. Bayern clinched the third championship title in the club's history at their new stadium.
Topics of this article