Bayern Munich finally got its hands on the Bundesliga trophy on Saturday, sealing the deal with a 5-1 victory over Cologne that left the record books rewritten.
Harry Kane scored his fourth hat trick of the season, lifting his tally to 36 goals—five shy of Robert Lewandowski's league record from 2020-21. Tom Bischof and Nicolas Jackson added the others in a rout that decided the title with four rounds to spare.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
A record that spoke for itself
The numbers told the story. Bayern finished with 122 goals across the campaign, comfortably surpassing the previous Bundesliga record of 101 set by the 1971-72 side featuring Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller.
Leon Goretzka broke the record itself, scoring the goal that mattered with five rounds still remaining. He is leaving the club after eight seasons.
"We have a great group, a great togetherness, and to celebrate success with that is awesome," Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said. This was his second league title with the club.
Bayern has now won every Bundesliga since Borussia Dortmund secured back-to-back titles in 2012—with the sole exception of Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten domestic season in 2024.
French winger Michael Olise, who contributed 15 goals and 22 assists across 32 appearances, was named Bundesliga player of the season. The award ceremony doubled as a celebration platform.
The wait for the bowl
Though the数学 was settled weeks earlier, the players received the actual trophy only on Saturday. The delay gave the occasion an odd weight—as if winning and celebrating were separate events requiring their own momentum.
Captain Manuel Neuer, who extended his contract by another year on Friday, handed the trophy to Goretzka. Goretzka raised it skyward, and the confetti erupted. Queen's "We Are The Champions" filled the stadium.
Then came the beer. Giant pitchers appeared on the pitch with the inevitability of a tradition that knows precisely when to interrupt protocol. Anyone caught too far from shelter became a target.
Defender Dayot Upamecano doused coach Vincent Kompany before the soaked manager managed to reach his family on the sideline.
"I'd say today it's OK to celebrate a little," midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. "Then we have a week and then we'll be fully focused on the cup final."
Bayern faces defending German Cup champion Stuttgart in Berlin's Olympiastadion next Saturday.