Five takeaways from the final Bundesliga matchday

There’s nothing quite like the final matchday of the Bundesliga. 

Nine games, all at once, and everything can change in a matter of minutes. This year was no exception. 

There were still European spots up for grabs, and one team hoping to escape the relegation play-offs.

Sports News Blitz writer Annika Böttcher looks at the key decisions from the final day in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund sneak into the Champions League

With a 3-0 victory over Holstein Kiel, who had already been relegated, Borussia Dortmund secured fourth place after all and booked their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Something that looked rather unlikely over the course of the season. 

After 26 games, they were only eleventh, ten points behind fourth place, and many had already written Dortmund off. 

But because Freiburg and Frankfurt played each other on the final matchday and took points off each other, Dortmund were still able to reward what had been a comparatively poor season. 

Curiously, they took the lead so early that the match in Freiburg hadn’t even kicked off yet.

Freiburg are the ones who end up losing out, missing out on a Champions League spot they’d long been in contention for. 

But there’s at least a small consolation: they’ll be playing in the Europa League next season.

Mainz is heading for Europe

Mainz are also rewarded for a strong season. 

A 2-2 draw against second-placed Bayer Leverkusen was enough to secure sixth place and a spot in the UEFA Conference League play-offs. 

They are probably the surprise team of the season. The last time they were in the Europa League was in 2016.

The match against Leverkusen was the perfect way to end it all. 

A wild game, full of drama. 

Three times Mainz thought they’d taken the lead, and three times VAR said no. But just before the break, their persistence finally paid off.

Leverkusen turned the game around in the second half, but Mainz equalised from the penalty spot to make it 2-2.

And with Leipzig losing, the point was enough.

Leverkusen, already assured of second place, won’t be too bothered by the result. But for Mainz, it was a moment to celebrate.

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No European football for Leipzig

Leipzig knew before the final matchday that the Champions League was no longer a possibility.

A competition they’ve been regulars in over the past few years. 

But with a win against VfB Stuttgart, they still could have moved up to sixth and secured a spot in the UEFA Conference League. 

Instead, they lost 2-3 and finished the season in seventh, a position that’s usually been enough for Europe but not this time. 

Because both teams in this year’s cup final come from outside the top six, the final European place will go there instead. 

For the first time since 2017, RB Leipzig won’t be playing in Europe next season and that’s likely to stir things up at the club over the summer.

Heidenheim miss their chance

Kiel and Bochum had already been relegated last week. 

Heidenheim still had a slim chance of climbing out of 16th place and avoiding the relegation play-offs against the third-placed team from the second division. 

They needed to beat Werder Bremen and hope that Hoffenheim lost to Bayern Munich.

Hoffenheim did their part, losing 4-0 to Bayern and opening the door. 

But Heidenheim couldn’t take advantage. They never really found their rhythm and were beaten 4-1 by Bremen. 

Now all eyes turn to the relegation play-offs, with the first leg at home later this week against SV Elversberg.

Bayern end the season in style

There wasn’t much left at stake for Bayern Munich on the final day. 

The title was already wrapped up, the trophy handed over a week earlier in their own stadium. 

It was only about finishing properly and avoiding any influence on the relegation fight. 

Some had worried that motivation might be lacking, that Hoffenheim could end up benefiting. But Bayern delivered one last reminder of their quality, cruising to a 4-0 win.

It was also the final match for club legend Thomas Müller, who had already been given an emotional farewell in the previous game.

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