Berlin, 5 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Bayern Munich officially clinched the 2024-25 Bundesliga title on Sunday without playing as rivals Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 at Freiburg.

Bayern were seconds away from wrapping up matters on Saturday but then conceded a last-gasp 3-3 equalizer at RB Leipzig. The title was however officially theirs a day later.

Freiburg led from Maximilian Eggestein in the 44th and a Piero Hancapie own goal in the 49th. Florian Wirtz in the 82nd and Jonathan Tah in stoppage time salvaged a draw which however wasn't good enough.

It is a first trophy at long last for Bayern striker and league top scorer Harry Kane. It is also the biggest success to date for Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who replaced Thomas Tuchel last summer.

"Back where we belong," Bayern said on X, while Kane simply posted a trophy emoji.

Bayern reclaimed the trophy from Leverkusen, who are eight points behind in second and can not catch them any more in the final two games. Leverkusen ended Bayern's run of 11 straight titles last term but Bayern hit back and now have a record-extending 34 national titles, of which 33 have come in the Bundesliga era which started 1963-64.

It was the fourth time in league history that a team clinched the title without playing, with Bayern also champions that way on the previous occasions in 1989, 2015 and 2021.

Players celebrate together

Kane and the rest of the Bayern Munich team celebrated the Bundesliga title in a Munich restaurant.

The striker posted a video on X showing him and others delivering a wild rendition of Queen's "We are the Champions" shortly after the title was confirmed.

The video showed coach Vincent Kompany and midfielder Joshua Kimmich enjoying a glass of wine while defender Eric Dier preferred a beer.

Kompany said in a statement after delivering in his first season: "Now it is the time to enjoy that we have won the Bundesliga - what an unbelievable feeling. Congratulations to the players for their outstanding performance across the whole season."

The German Football League confirmed that Bayern will receive the trophy after the Borussia Mönchengladbach match in their home stadium next Saturday, and not after the final match in Hoffenheim a week later.

Freiburg returned into fourth but will lament the late equalizer in a tight battle for the final Champions League slot, as they are only one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund and two ahead of Leipzig.

"I feel bad. We deserved it so much, fought so well. It is bitter and in the end you don't reward yourself," Freiburg forward Vincenzo Grifo said.

Tah, who played his 400th Leverkusen match, said: "We didn't have enough intensity. The last 10 minutes were OK but it wasn't enough."

Eintracht Frankfurt in third are two points short of securing Champions League qualification after a 1-1 draw at Mainz, who remain seventh for the time being and four points from the top four.

Freiburg dominate

In Freiburg, Vincenzo Grifo had a first chance for the hosts after a cautious start from both sides but aimed right at goalkeeper Matej Kovar from a distance.

Freiburg were more lively and Patrick Osterhage had their biggest chance in the 34nd but unable to beat Kovar one on one from a right angle - after Florian Wirtz had given up the ball for Leverkusen.

The breakthrough finally came in the 44th when Eggestein got the ball after an attack down the left and drilled into the left corner from almost 30 metres.

Leverkusen's title chances had effectively ended on Saturday at the very latest, and their fate appeared sealed for good in the 49th when Hincapie turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Junior Adamu in a goalmouth scramble.

Fightback not enough

Wirtz pulled one back in the 82nd into the bottom left corner completely out of the blue, and Leverkusen then showed their famous fighting spirit to level from Tah's header in the third minute of stoppage time.

It did nothing to keep the title race alive but extended Leverkusen's unbeaten run away from home to 33 matches.

"Congratulations to Bayern. It is a deserved title. They were more consistent and are deserved champions," Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso told streaming portal DAZN.

Lifeline for Kiel

Earlier Sunday, Holstein Kiel got a lifeline in their fight against relegation with a 3-1 victory at Augsburg.

Shuto Machino converted a 25th-minute penalty, and Alexander Bernhardsson added a brace with a looping header in the 40th and a fierce drive five minutes after the restart - both set up by defence-splitting passes from Steven Skrzybski. Steve Mounie got a late consolation goal for the hosts.

Kiel remain second last, but with seven points from their last three games are just one point behind Heidenheim in the relegation play-off spot. However, Kiel face Freiburg and fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund in their final two games. Augsburg are 11th and out of contention for a European berth.

MIA file photo