With relegation and European places to be confirmed, the final day of Bundesliga fixtures provided drama at both ends of the table. The German top-flight was set for a thrilling final round, and we have taken a look at the key points in the action.
Round-Up of the Final Day Bundesliga Action
Werder Bremen Suffer First Bundesliga Relegation in 40 Years
Werder Bremen’s 40-year stay in the Bundesliga has come to an end following a disappointing 4-2 defeat at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Having sacked manager Florian Kohfeldt in the build-up to the final match of the season, ex-player and boss Thomas Schaaf, was brought in to save their season. The 60-year-old was a player for Bremen the last time the club got relegated, but the man who managed the side when they last won the Bundesliga title in 2003/04 failed to provide the desired impact.
Heading into the final match occupying the last remaining automatic relegation position, Bremen knew only a win would maintain their chances of catching FC Koln or Arminia Bielefeld above them. It wasn’t to be for Die Werderaner, who will be joining fellow fallen giants Schalke 04 and Hamburg in Bundesliga 2. next season.
Robert Lewandowski Breaks Bundesliga Record on Final Day
Latching on to the end of a rebounded Leroy Sane shot, only an open goal stood between Robert Lewandowski and Bundesliga history.
After equalling the all-time Bundesliga goals record in the penultimate round of fixtures against Freiburg, the Polish captain went into the final match needing one more to hold the record outright. Coming in the last minute of Bayern Munich’s entertaining 5-2 victory over Bavarian neighbours Augsburg, Lewandowski netted his unprecedented 41st goal of the campaign.
While the 32-year-old may hold the record for the most goals in a single season, Lewandowski is still 89 goals away from Muller’s total Bundesliga tally.
Europe Secured for Union Berlin With Last Kick of Bundesliga Season
In just their second-ever season as a Bundesliga club, Union Berlin have secured European football with a final day victory over runners-up RB Leipzig.
Level with Julian Nagelsmann’s side heading into added time, and with Mönchengladbach cruising to victory against Bremen, Union looked destined to miss out. However, Max Kruse’s 11th Bundesliga goal of the season clinched a seventh-placed finish and a Europa Conference League spot for Union.
Union have played in Europe before after finishing as runners-up to Schalke in the 2001 DFB Pokal final, yet this achievement represents a new dawn for Urs Fischer’s men. Comfortably finishing mid-table in their maiden Bundesliga campaign, Union were already guaranteed their highest top-flight finish, with the victory against Leipzig an added benefit on an already successful season.
Erling Haaland Nets 40th Goal of the Season
Having bullied defences across Europe for over two years, Erling Haaland capped off his first full season in the Bundesliga with his 40th goal in all competitions this campaign.
Netting his 26th and then 28th league goals in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-1 win at home to Bayer Leverkusen, the Norwegian international added to his three strikes in the DFB Pokal and impressive ten in the Champions League.
It is the first time the 20-year-old has reached this milestone in his fledgeling career and with clubs across Europe lining up for his signature, it probably isn’t too long before he replicates this tally once again.
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