Bundelsiga Matchday 31 recap: Bayern Munich one win from title, Holstein Kiel win thriller, Dortmund in European spot, and much more | OneFootball

Matchday 31 in the Bundesliga saw Bayern Munich go within one win of the title, Holstein Kiel win a thriller, a new name enter the top four, and much more. Here is your Bundesliga recap and all the talking points from matchday 31 in the Bundesliga.

Bayern Munich One Step Closer

Bayern Munich breezed past Mainz 05 on Saturday afternoon as they cruised to a 3-0 victory. They could have won the title last weekend, should Bayer Leverkusen fail to win at home to FC Augsburg. However, Xabi Alonso’s side ensured that the champagne remained on ice for now, having won their match 2-0.

Leroy Sané was the first on the scoresheet before Michael Olise doubled Bayern’s lead before halftime. Eric Dier then scored his first Bundesliga goal to round off a solid day for the Bavarians.

Olise’s goal and one assist from the game takes his season tally in the Bundesliga to 9 goals and 15 assists in 31 games. As fellow GGFN reported put it, “It is safe to say that he has taken like a duck to water when it comes to integrating into this Bayern team.”

Bayern could win the title this weekend should they beat RB Leipzig in Saxony. It’s no easy feat, and they’ll have to do it without top scorer Harry Kane. The Englishman is suspended for the game, having collected five yellow cards over the course of the season.

Unlike other leagues, the Bundesliga doesn’t reset yellow cards halfway through the season. Kane was frustrated by the rule but managed to see the funny side of the situation:

“It’s kind of my story that I’ll miss the Leipzig game. But no worries, I’ll celebrate more than anyone else,” Kane explained after the Mainz game.

SC Freiburg Go Fourth

SC Frieburg earned an invaluable three points as they edged past 10-man Wolfsburg 0-1 on Saturday afternoon.

With other results going their way, Julian Schuster’s side now find themselves in 4th position with three games to go. It’s already been an extraordinary first season under Schuster, who took over the reins from legendary figure Christian Streich.

Freiburg are hitting form at the right time, whilst others below them are faltering slightly. It’s now three wins on the bounce, and with three more victories, they’ll be playing Champions League football next term.

Their remaining fixtures won’t be easy, however. This weekend, they host Bayer Leverkusen before heading to Holstein Kiel, and then finishing off at home against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Kiel Win Seven-Goal Thriller

Holstein Kiel played out a frantic back-and-forth game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, which ended in the Northerners coming out 4-3 winners.

It’s a win that breathes life into Kiel’s relegation survival hopes and puts them within striking distance of FC Heidenheim in 16th (3 points).

Kiel’s last three fixtures include Augsburg away, Freiburg at home, and Dortmund away on the final day. It’s a tough ask without a doubt, but if you told Kiel fans they’d be in with a shout of survival with three games to go, they would have taken it.

Possibly the biggest standout player for Kiel this season has been Japanese international Shūto Machino. The striker has scored 10 goals in 29 Bundesliga games this season. For a newly promoted team to have someone scoring 10+ goals in a season, that’s massive.

Whatever happens to Kiel, they can hold their heads high this season. If they can take it to the final day of the season, who knows what can happen?

Around The Grounds

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, TSG Hoffenheim now find themselves back in a relegation battle following a dramatic 2-3 loss to Borussia Dortmund. TSG thought they’d snatched a point in the 92nd minute until Anton scored in the 95th minute to give BVB a huge 3 points. This is all the more embarrassing when you realise that TSG have spent more Bayer Leverkusen this season and were the league’s sixth highest spenders.

Speaking of BVB, that win against Hoffenheim puts them back into the European places in 6th. From 4th-8th, just five points now separate those five teams.

Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt have all but secured 3rd position following a 4-0 thumping against RB Leipzig. The Eagles went in 1-0 up and the break, and following the sending off of El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Leipzig completely fell apart. Three goals followed, with Leipzig now in 5th and two points off 4th.

There was also a huge win for FC Heidenheim away at Stuttgart, who are seemingly saving themselves for the DFB Pokal final.

There were also draws between Werder Bremen v St. Pauli and Bochum v Union Berlin.

GGFN | Jamie Allen