Leverkusen's Unbeaten Championship, Union Berlin's Miraculous Survival

 **Union Berlin's Miraculous Survival and Leverkusen's Unbeaten Championship**

Union Berlin celebrates a late football miracle, securing their place in the top league for next season. On May 18, 2024, at 17:59, Reuters/Annegret Hilse

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Champion Leverkusen celebrated their victory in the German Bundesliga finale in a fitting manner. Despite missing two penalty kicks and almost at the last minute, Union Berlin managed to secure their survival. Alongside Darmstadt, Cologne is relegated, while Bochum faces the playoffs.

1. FC Köln is confirmed as the second team to be directly relegated from the German Bundesliga. The traditional club lost 4-1 (0-3) against 1. FC Heidenheim on the final matchday. VfL Bochum will compete against Fortuna Düsseldorf, the third-placed team from the second division, for their survival after a 4-1 (0-1) defeat to Werder Bremen.

1. FC Union Berlin celebrated their survival after a 2-1 (0-0) win against SC Freiburg, and FSV Mainz 05 secured their place with a 3-1 (1-1) victory over VfL Wolfsburg.

Champion Leverkusen became the first Bundesliga team to remain unbeaten throughout a season with their 2-1 (2-0) win against FC Augsburg. Bayern Munich lost the runner-up spot after a 4-2 (2-1) defeat to TSG Hoffenheim, making VfB Stuttgart the second-place team following their 4-0 (2-0) win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

**Cologne falls behind early with no chance**

Hoffenheim will play internationally next season as the seventh-placed team, along with Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished sixth after a 2-2 (0-1) draw with RB Leipzig. In Dortmund, Marco Reus celebrated a perfect farewell, scoring in the 4-0 (2-0) victory against relegated Darmstadt 98.

Cologne was far from the playoff spot from the 16th minute: Eren Dinkci first brought Heidenheim into the lead and scored the second goal in the 22nd minute. Kevin Sessa's (36th minute) third goal for Heidenheim practically sealed Cologne's relegation in the first half, with Steffen Tigges' (64th minute) goal for Cologne in the second half making no difference. Jan-Niklas Beste (78th minute) added another goal for Heidenheim.

**Union's Miracle**

Union had a great chance to take the lead with a handball penalty, but Josip Juranovic was denied by Freiburg's goalkeeper Noah Atubolu (38th minute). Benedict Hollerbach (68th minute) scored for Berlin, which would have saved Union at that moment. Ritsu Doan (85th minute) put Berlin back in the relegation zone, but Janik Haberer (90+2 minutes) scored from a rebound after teammate Kevin Volland missed a penalty, letting Union celebrate.

Bochum conceded early to Marco Friedl (6th minute). The match was decided after goals by Anthony Jung (78th minute) and Jens Stage (80th minute). Before the final whistle, Christopher Antwi-Adjei (85th minute) scored for VfL, and Romano Schmid (87th minute) for Werder.

**Bayern Munich stumbles**

Mainz briefly worried after Kevin Paredes' (18th minute) goal, but Brajan Gruda (24th minute) quickly equalized. Sepp van den Berg (72nd minute) put Mainz in the lead, and Jonathan Burkardt (85th minute) secured the win.

Leverkusen celebrated the opening goal by Victor Boniface (12th minute) after a mistake by Augsburg's goalkeeper Tomas Koubek. Robert Andrich (27th minute) added a back-heel goal for a comfortable two-goal lead. Mert Kömür (62nd minute) scored for Augsburg in the second half.

Bayern Munich took an early lead through Mathys Tel (4th minute), assisted by Thomas Müller, who matched Sepp Maier's record with his 473rd game for Munich. Alphonso Davies (6th minute) scored two minutes later, but Maximilian Beier (8th minute) quickly responded for TSG. Andrej Kramaric (68th minute) equalized and then scored twice more (85th and 87th minutes) to secure Hoffenheim's victory.

**Reus bids farewell**

Ian Maatsen (30th minute) opened the scoring for Dortmund, followed by a celebrated goal from Marco Reus (38th minute). The 34-year-old scored with a free kick. Julian Brandt (72nd minute) and Donyell Malen (88th minute) added to Dortmund's tally.

For Stuttgart, Serhou Guirassy (23rd and 31st minutes) scored twice, while Wooyeong Jeong (75th minute) and Silas Katompa Mvumpa (83rd minute) also found the net. Leipzig took the lead in Frankfurt with a penalty from Xavi Simons (42nd minute). Benjamin Sesko (46th minute) doubled the lead shortly after the break. Hugo Ekitiké (60th minute) pulled one back, and Omar Marmoush (77th minute) equalized with a penalty. (dpa/APA)