In the Bundesliga, there was once again no getting past FC Bayern, while in Bulgaria, a 14-year winning streak came to an end. These European champions have already been decided.
With a 4-2 win over Stuttgart, Munich clinched their 35th championship title as early as Matchday 30. While Manuel Neuer tied the previous record holder, Thomas Müller, with his 13th championship, Bayern’s offense not only outshone the remaining 17 teams but also broke a record.
After Bayern had scored a whopping 101 goals in the 1971/72 Bundesliga season, Vincent Kompany’s team has now broken that record after just 29 matches. Leon Goretzka scored FCB’s 102nd goal of the season with the 2-0 lead during the rout at St. Pauli (5-0), with many more to follow.
First coaching Scudetto for Chivu – Barca defends title
The title race has also been decided early in two other top-five leagues. In Italy, for example, Inter Milan has been crowned Serie A champion for the 21st time since early May. In their first year under Cristian Chivu, who took over the coaching reins in the summer from successful coach Simone Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri left the competition—led by last year’s champion, Napoli—far behind.
The championship race is just as decided in Spain, where FC Barcelona sealed the deal with a Clásico victory over Real Madrid (2-0). For Hansi Flick, who won La Liga for the second consecutive season with the Catalans, it was also a highly emotional day from a personal perspective.
PSV Celebrates as Early as Easter – Change of Guard in Bulgaria
Outside the “big” leagues, PSV Eindhoven was particularly impressive, celebrating the earliest Eredivisie title in history in early April. In Portugal, meanwhile, FC Porto ended its title drought after Sporting had triumphed twice and Benfica Lisbon once.
For Leroy Sané and Ilkay Gündogan, who had joined Galatasaray in the summer, their debut season immediately brought the most important national success to celebrate. The Turkish record champions lived up to their role as favorites and extended their current title streak into a fourth consecutive year. The same could not be said for Ludogorez Razgrad, which was dethroned by Levski Sofia in Bulgaria after 14 years.
Also worth mentioning is the coup by Aarhus GF, which can call itself Danish champion for the first time in 40 years. The enthusiasm in the “City of Smiles” knew no bounds—even Mayor Anders Winnerskjold was overjoyed: “One cannot overestimate how great the joy is in the city and how much longing and will to win have finally been awakened.”
