Bayern Munich finally got its hands on the Bundesliga trophy on Saturday, completing a dominant season that saw the club rewrite the record books behind a Harry Kane hat trick and a goal tally that left the competition in the dust.
Kane lifts Bayern to historic haul
Kane's fourth hat trick of the season lifted his personal tally to 36 goals—still five shy of Robert Lewandowski's league record from 2020-21—but enough topower Bayern to a 5-1 rout of Cologne in the final round. Tom Bischof and Nicolas Jackson also found the net as Bayern finished with a staggering 122 goals, comfortably surpassing the previous Bundesliga record of 101 set by the 1971-72 Bayern side featuring Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller.
Leon Goretzka had the honor of breaking the record, scoring the goal that moved Bayern past 101 with fully five rounds still to play. The midfielder, departing after eight seasons, was later handed the trophy by captain Manuel Neuer—who signed a one-year contract extension on Friday—to lift skyward as confetti erupted and Queen's "We Are The Champions" blared across the stadium.
Celebration soaks Kompany and crew
The traditional beer showers followed quickly, with giant pitchers brought onto the field and anyone remaining dry becoming a target. Defender Dayot Upamecano doused manager Vincent Kompany before the soaked coachmanaged to join 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 now faces defending champion Stuttgart in the German Cup final at Berlin's Olympiastadion next Saturday. French winger Michael Olise—who finished with 15 goals and 22 assists across 32 appearances—was named Bundesliga player of the season as the celebrations wore on.
The trophy presentation had an odd delay: Kompany's side secured the title with four rounds remaining yet had to wait until Saturday to actually lift the "salad bowl." Some records, it seems, arrive early; the party waits for the calendar.