10 out of 10. Bayern Munich are champions of the Bundesliga for the 10th year in a row. Just like last season, they have done it with three games to spare. Supporters would like to remind everyone that it did not come easy but…it did. The German top-flight has long been a one-horse race. Bayern Munich’s player power and potential are unmatched.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 #MiaSanMeister 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆#MISS10N ✔ #FCBayern #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/yW6enWWmGP
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) April 23, 2022
Borussia Dortmund, their closest rivals in 2022, finished 12 points behind in second. Julian Nagelsmann guided the Bavarians to its 31st league title to pick up his second piece of silverware.
Previously, he had also guided Bayern Munich to victory in the German Supercup. Nagelsmann is one of the best young managers in the world and will only get better with time.
First one on the mantelpiece 🏆
Congrats, @J__Nagelsmann! 👏#MiaSanMia #Supercup pic.twitter.com/iv2o84XrEy
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) August 18, 2021
Moreover, with such a strong squad at his disposal, it is no wonder that they make a formidable pair. Now that the title is officially secured, the focus turns to the summer and what comes next.
In addition, Bayern are very close to signing 19-year-old super talent Ryan Gravenberch from Ajax to bolster the midfield. More signings will definitely be on the way soon.
Bayern Munich- Road to Bundesliga champions
The most brilliant thing Bayern Munich did before the season started involved their transfer activity. Bayern bought central defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. These moves had major benefits. Firstly, Bayern balanced David Alaba and Jerome Boateng’s departure in defence.
Here’s how Ryan Gravenberch fits into Bayern’s midfield and make them scarier
Secondly, it severely weakened the runners-up from last season, RB Leipzig.
Bayern Munich have signed RB Leipzig's manager (Nagelsmann) , their captain (Sabitzer) and top young centre-back (Upamecano) from them all in one summer.
Leipzig finished runners-up to Bayern in the Bundesliga last season.
That's not a good look for the league at all.
— James McManus (@JamesMcManus1) August 30, 2021
However, the preseason did not go too hot for the defending champions. Bayern drew one and lost three of their matches, sparking hopes of a new champion. That thought gained further traction with Borussia Monchengladbach earning a draw at home in the season opener.
As if to prove their dominance under the new boss, Nagelsmann’s side promptly went off on a five-match win streak. Those wins came by a scoreline of 22-4. Bayern scored at least three in every match, hitting Bochum for seven, Leipzig for four, and Hertha for five. Bochum will remember this.
Bayern Munich sit at the top of the Bundesliga standings this evening after hitting seven goals past VfL Bochum.
WRAP ➡️ https://t.co/AsA3xCSBoG pic.twitter.com/ScjWsuGGzG
— Kick Off (@KickOffMagazine) September 18, 2021
The Bavarians lost their first match of the season on matchday seven at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. That loss sparked another run of four consecutive wins as they scored 16 goals and conceded only twice. Fans were starting to notice a pattern as Bayern lost 2-1 away to Augsburg in mid-November.
Indeed, Nagelsmann and co. won the next five straight, including an unbeaten December. 2022 arrived and Bayern suffered their third loss in the first match of the new year. Their old rivals Monchengladbach got the better of them once again in another 2-1 defeat.
FT: Bayern Munich 1-2 Borussia M'gladbach.
Bayern Munich's first game in 2022 ends up in defeat. pic.twitter.com/w8Seb2PWpy
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) January 7, 2022
Three more wins followed before one of the two most surprising results in the season occurred. Bochum hit for seven in the reverse fixture and spanked the champions-to-be 4-2. Moreover, it was also the first loss not by a 2-1 scoreline in the league for Bayern.
5-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach. THEY TAKE A FIVE GOAL LEAD VS BAYERN MUNICH! pic.twitter.com/KAPoanw2em
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) October 27, 2021
That was to be their last defeat as Bayern are currently on a nine-match undefeated run. They have the league’s best attack and defence which has made life easier. Once again, the Bundesliga was a cakewalk.
The men who made it 10
First and foremost, there is the deadly Robert Lewandowski. 32 goals and two assists. For context, Patrick Schick in second place has 20 goals. Lewandowski has been the ever-reliable goal poacher who can score from anywhere. He has had nine matches of scoring at least a brace. Three of those instances have turned into hat tricks.
Robert Lewandowski 🇵🇱 sets a new record for the most away goals in a Bundesliga season (18). 🔥 #FCBayern pic.twitter.com/osyjLY5jjr
— RouteOneFootball (@Route1futbol) April 17, 2022
Moreover, Lewandowski’s goals have been imperative in leading Bayern Munich to the throne of champions in the Bundesliga every year. Behind the Polish striker is his top mate, Thomas Muller.
The ageless veteran has a league-high 16 assists and has scored seven times. Muller has been the conductor of the attacking orchestra which is pivotal to the running of the side. In goal, Manuel Neuer has kept the joint-most 10 clean sheets.
Friendly reminder that Thomas Muller has provided 18 assists in 21 Bundesliga games this season.
The record is 21 in a single season. Set by Thomas Muller.
Having one of his best season’s ever at 32 years old.
Put some respect on his name 😤 pic.twitter.com/A3fVNFGGwR
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 12, 2022
The trio have been the backbone of the side that is now full of excellent ballplayers. Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane and of course, the versatile Joshua Kimmich. These men have taken Bayern Munich to a different level seemingly every match.
Gnabry and Coman with their quickness, pace, and direct attacking threat. Sane’s career has been reinvigorated in Germany, playing across the front line.
Kimmich is the most all-around threat in the Bundesliga, able to make a decisive impact on both ends of the pitch. The defence is mostly a back three of Upamecano, Niklas Sule and Benjamin Pavard. The 3-4-2-1 shape helps in closing off spaces while allowing Neuer to keep up with his sweeper role.
Jamal Musiala all-time stats for Bayern:
✅44 games
➡️13 starts
⏱️1547 minutes
⚽️11 goals
🅰️4 assists
📊directly involved in a goal every 103 minutes18 years of age. Beginning of something very, very special. pic.twitter.com/YroL23Co4N
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) September 14, 2021
One of the brightest prospects has been Jamal Musiala. The teenager has played in a number of positions, excelling in all of them. 10+ goal contributions in the league are a very decent return in a solid first season.
What happens next?
Apart from being crowned Bundesliga champions, the season has not been too hot for Bayern Munich. They won all of their group-stage matches in the Champions League, and made it past the round-of-16 against RB Salzburg. Villarreal awaited them in the quarters and overconfidence may have played its part. Bayern were defeated 2-1 on aggregate in one of the shocks of the European season.
VILLARREAL HAVE DONE IT! BAYERN MUNICH ARE ELIMINATED FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 😱 pic.twitter.com/i5AYpruPTV
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 12, 2022
This came after the Bavarians were blown out of the DFB-Pokal last October. After beating fifth-division side Bremer SV 12-0 in the first round, Borussia Monchengladbach came next. The Foals produced one of the most famous results in the competition’s history by inflicting a 5-0 loss. These kinds of up-and-down performances will not satisfy many, mainly because European glory is what they crave the most.
Nagelsmann on Lewandowski future: “I talk to him a lot, we have a lively exchange. We want to keep him. But it's not always that simple”. 🔴 #FCBayern
“I don't have the feeling he doesn't want to stay with us. In the end, it's a joint decision. There will certainly be talks”. pic.twitter.com/MAXQUt5Un7
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 19, 2022
Similarly, the big talking point is Lewandowski’s future. The striker has reiterated time and again that he is looking for a three-year extension to his current deal that expires in 2023.
Read also: Could Aaron Hickey be the fullback solution for Bayern?
Bayern have been unwilling to commit which has turned on the rumour mills. Lewandowski can leave the club in the summer, with several interested parties on the prowl.
Bayern are progressing at final stages of negotiations for Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui. Both are expected to join Bayern. 🔴 #FCBayern
Oliver Kahn tells @sport1: "We don't speak about players who are under contract at other clubs. It's about respect for other teams". pic.twitter.com/gXKqWHPW4d
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 17, 2022
Moreover, having signed Ryan Gravenberch, with Noussair Mazraoui on the way, Bayern are shifting to a younger core. Moreover, Muller is also staying till at least 2023. Above all, replacing Lewandowski will be nigh on impossible in this market. There are several questions in front of them, mostly not related to the Bundesliga.
In conclusion, the club can relax for now and look towards the end of the season with fondness after underlining their credentials of being the best in the land.