On matchday 34, FC Bayern Munich struggled to win their eleventh championship title in a row by beating 1. FC Köln 2-1. The performance of the Munich team was just as expandable as in the previous weeks, in the end a substitute ensured the unreal and hardly expected triumph.
Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala scored for Munich, who seemed to hardly believe their coup themselves at first. The winners, losers of the game and the grades and individual reviews of the FC Bayern Munich players.
Match winner: Jamal Musiala
With his extra class, the 20-year-old concealed one or two Munich weaknesses in the first half of the season. In the second half of the season, he still showed regular tongue-clicking actions, but was very often very unlucky in front of goal. In Cologne, he, who otherwise tried to dribble a bit too often, shot Bayern to their eleventh title in a row after coming on as a substitute with his first touch of the ball and a goal through all opposing legs.
Loser of the game: Serge Gnabry
As he blossomed into a top scorer on duty in recent weeks, it briefly seemed as if he might still be able to salvage what had previously been a rather unfortunate season. His handball in front of the Cologne equalizer almost cost Bayern the title in the end. It is questionable whether he will still be part of the team at the beginning of the coming season.
Yan Summers: Endured a largely idle first half and didn’t get very busy in the second half either but was there when it came to saves against Davie Selke. No chance for a penalty. His saves in the second half of the season certainly had their share in the ultimately unexpected title win. Note 3.
FC Bayern Munich: Defender
Benjamin Pavard: Had to play again on the right in the back four because coach Thomas Tuchel wanted to give loan player Joao Cancelo a break before his possible last appearance at Bayern. Together with Dayot Upamecano, he secured the Munich lead with Cologne’s best chance in the first quarter of an hour. Interpreted his role much more defensively than Mazraoui, but with quite a lot of ball losses. grade: 4
Dayot Upamecano: Starting XI debut after tearing his hamstring. Presented himself more stable than before his injury, serious performance without moments of cardiac arrest for those around him. Note 3.
Matthijs de Ligt: Stable as always in the past few weeks, but with a little too many turnovers. Still remains Bavaria’s best newcomer, he has definitely earned his first German championship. Grade: 3.5.
Noussair Mazraoui: Showed this time on the left why he got stuck in the starting XI in the final stages of the season. Often on the ball, with a lot of drive forward, played most of the passes in the last third after Coman. Grade: 2.5.
FC Bayern Munich: midfielder
Joshua Kimmich: Solid, serious performance in defensive midfield. Excellent pass rate as always, but as so often in the past few weeks, he went under in the second half. Grade: 3.5.
Ryan Gravenberch: Was allowed to play in central midfield instead of Leon Goretzka, presented himself as very strong in a tackle. Although nominally more offensive than Joshua Kimmich, most of his passes went to defenders. Had to make room for Goretzka 20 minutes before the end. grade: 4
Leroy Sane: Fine shift to Coman before 1-0. Valuable assist point for Bayern’s early lead. His finely tempered goal could have been even more valuable after his own initiation to make it 2-0 shortly before the break – however, he had been given the ball before the goal was initiated. In the second half, he first failed to make Munich’s lead more comfortable and then, after equalizing, brought Bayern back to master class. Nevertheless, the most active Munich offensive player. Grade: 3.5.
Thomas Müller: Started the attack from a long way behind to make it 1-0, then headed against the post when Cologne got a little into the game. Otherwise took quite a lot of time off. Thomas Tuchel replaced him after about an hour and thus helped Cancelo to make another appearance in the Bayern jersey. Grade: 4.5.
Kingsley Coman: A week ago against Leipzig, his mistake favored the opponent’s victory. In Cologne he was criminally left alone before the 1-0, but you have to carve the ball so wonderfully into the corner. He didn’t have many more successful actions, but he remains the man for the very important Bayern goals. Note 3.
Bayern Munich: attacker
Serge Gnabry: For a long time there was hardly anything to see from him, until he then played a technically valuable one-two with Sané, who had a clear path to what could have been the second goal of the day. The goal was rightly taken back by VAR. The VAR also rightly punished his handball for a penalty for Cologne in the second half. grade: 5
FC Bayern Munich: Substitute
João Cancelo: Came for Thomas Müller, brought only eleven of his 16 balls to a teammate. Collected no arguments for continued employment. Grade: 4.5
Eric Maxim Choupo Moting: Celebrated his comeback in the 71st minute after a long injury break. Came for Coman, missed the 2-0. Grade: 3.5.
Leon Goretzka: Came in for Gravenberch in the 71st minute and had to give way after Musiala equalised. It doesn’t get any more humiliating than that. Without rating.
Jamal Musiala: Thomas Tuchel brought him after the equalizer. The coach humiliated Goretzka, who had only recently been substituted on, but ensured the eleventh German championship title in a row! A goal to kneel for 2:1 and the championship.
Mathy’s phone: Came along with Musiala in the closing stages. Without rating.
