Zoom Image

Cheering fans at Union Berlin

Photo: Hannibal Hanschke / EPA

1. FC Union Berlin has fulfilled its dream of winning the Champions League exactly four years to the day after promotion to the Bundesliga. The Iron defended the fourth place in the Bundesliga table with a 1-0 (0-0) win against Werder Bremen. Rani Khedira (81st minute) scored the winning goal for the Berliners at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei, which made the first participation in the most important European Cup competition perfect for coach Urs Fischer's team.

With 62 points, the past season is already the most successful in Union's short Bundesliga history. In addition, the team remained unbeaten at home throughout the season and even extended this current record run among all Bundesliga clubs to 23 games across the season. Exactly four years ago, the Berliners were promoted to the top flight by a 0-0 draw against VfB Stuttgart in the relegation play-offs.

In the meantime, Union had even topped the table for seven matchdays this season in the autumn. After eleventh place in the inaugural season and the following seventh and fifth places, the team moved up one place again. The Iron qualified for an international competition for the third time in a row.

SC Freiburg thus missed out on the historic qualification for the Champions League. Coach Christian Streich's team lost 1-2 (1-0) at Eintracht Frankfurt in the closing stages and could no longer pass Union Berlin. Eric Dina Embimbe scored in the first minute of injury time for the Hessians, who have now even secured the Conference League. Randal Kolo Muani (83') had previously scored the equaliser.

Despite a 0-3 (0-2) defeat against VfL Bochum, Leverkusen will continue to play internationally next season. After the defeat in the 1500th Bundesliga match in the club's history, coach Xabi Alonso's team defended sixth place, which entitles them to the Europa League or Conference League qualification, depending on the outcome of the DFB Cup final between RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt.

FC Bayern were able to celebrate the championship title in a thrilling final. Here you can read the match report for the dramatic long-distance duel with Borussia Dortmund.

All results of Matchday 34 and the table can be found here.

jan/dpa/sid