If Borussia Dortmund had the chance to become German champions on the last match day, they always won. In one case, BVB won the title as the pursuers. That has rarely happened in the history of the Bundesliga.
“yesone more damn win, one more fuckin’ win.” Borussia Dortmund has only been in the situation described by sports director Sebastian Kehl after the 3-0 win at FC Augsburg once in the history of the Bundesliga. In the 2001/02 season, BVB went into the last matchday as the leader and had to win in order to secure first place in the table.
It succeeded – with difficulty. Werder Bremen took the lead, but goals from Jan Koller and Ewerthon ensured that Dortmund, under coach Matthias Sammer, became champions.
All in all, it happened four times that the Westphalian Borussia had the chance to become champion with a win on a last match day. Each time she withstood the pressure and won. However, on two occasions she only got points but no bowl.
Excitement like seldom in 1991/92
In the extremely exciting 1991/92 season, VfB Stuttgart clinched the championship with a late goal with a man down to win at Bayer Leverkusen. BVB went away empty-handed, despite having an early 1-0 lead over time at MSV Duisburg.
This match day was particularly tragic for Eintracht Frankfurt, who started as leaders at FC Hansa. Rostock won 2-1, also thanks to a wrong decision by referee Alfons Berg, whose name Eintracht fans should never forget.
Dortmund celebrates Bayern Munich goals
Only five times in the history of the Bundesliga has there been a change at the top of the table on the last day of the game. In one case, Borussia Dortmund triumphed from the role of pursuer.
BVB received Hamburger SV on the last day of the 1994/95 season. After just under half an hour, Dortmund were leading 2-0. The game wore off, the spectators listened more to the radios they had brought with them than to their eyes on the pitch.
Borussia Dortmund celebrates the championship in the Westfalenstadion after the 1994/95 season.
Dortmund was dependent on FC Bayern, who received leaders Werder Bremen at the Olympic Stadium. When Munich’s goals made it 2-1 and 3-1 in the Westfalenstadion, the cheering was louder than at the Dortmund goals before. Ultimately, the fans stormed the pitch to celebrate BVB’s first championship since 1963.
On paper, Dortmund still had the chance to become champions on the last day of the game just a few years ago. In the 2018/19 season, the prerequisite for this was a win at Borussia Mönchengladbach, which went 2-0. However, hardly anyone expected in advance that Bayern would let their lead in the table be taken away by two points. They then clearly won 5-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
In the meantime, however, there was hope for Dortmund, because Sébastien Haller equalized a few minutes after the break.
Ballack’s fatal own goal in Unterhaching
Haller has it in his feet and head on Saturday (May 27th, 2023) to ensure that BVB maintains its lead in the table. A win against 1. FSV Mainz 05 would definitely spare Dortmund the fate that befell two other clubs in addition to Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 1999/2000 season finale was just as spectacular as the 1991/92 season finale. With coach Christoph Daum, who had led VfB to the title in 1992, Bayer Leverkusen traveled to SpVgg Unterhaching as leaders, for whom prestige was all that mattered in the secured midfield.
Even a draw would have been enough for Leverkusen to win the title, but an own goal by Michael Ballack started the 2-0 defeat. FC Bayern overtook thanks to a 3-1 win over Werder Bremen.
Kutzop’s penalty and a defeat on the Neckar
The 1985/86 championship final is mainly remembered for a missed penalty. Werder Bremen’s Michael Kutzop shot the penalty just before the end of the game against direct rivals Bayern Munich. The game of the penultimate matchday ended with 0:0.
A draw at VfB Stuttgart would have been enough for the Bremen team to save the championship lead. But coach Otto Rehhagel’s team lost 2-1 at the Neckar Stadium, while Bayern beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 6-0 and overtook them on goal difference.
Bremen is even twice affected by the loss of the table lead on the last matchday.
Gladbach overtakes Bayern at the premiere
In the 1970/71 season, FC Bayern went into the last day of the game with the same number of points but a goal better than Borussia Mönchengladbach. It was a shooting contest – but Bayern just didn’t score, probably because they were missing center forward Gerd Müller.
Munich lost 2-0 at MSV Duisburg, Gladbach won 4-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt, thanks in part to two goals from center forward Jupp Heynckes.
For the first time in the history of the Bundesliga, which was founded in 1963, there was a change at the top of the table on the last day of the game.