The “curse” has been lifted.
Bayern’s Harry Kane walks on the pitch on the finish of the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich on the Crimson Bull Enviornment in Leipzig(AP)
Harry Kane can lastly have fun his first profession title after Bayern Munich turned Bundesliga champion with slightly assist from Freiburg on Sunday.
Freiburg drew with second-placed Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 to go away Bayern an unassailable eight factors away from the 2024 champion with two rounds of the German league remaining.
The 31-year-old Kane had by no means gained a title in a profession of runner-up finishes and defeats in finals with Bayern, Tottenham and England, main some to talk of a “curse” in opposition to a participant thought-about one of many world’s greatest forwards.
Kane’s arrival as Bayern’s document signing in 2023 was adopted by the membership’s first trophyless season since 2012.
Kane was able to have fun Saturday when Bayern appeared set to win 3-2 in Leipzig. However Yussuf Poulsen equalized with the final kick of the sport for Leipzig to attract 3-3 and postpone Bayern’s celebration.
“Next week, Harry!” teammate Thomas Müller wrote on Instagram.
He didn’t have to attend that lengthy.
Leverkusen performed with out conviction in Freiburg, realizing that second place was already secured and that it solely had a mathematical probability of defending its title with Bayern having a far superior purpose distinction.
Maximilian Eggestein fired the house workforce forward earlier than the break and an own-goal from Piero Hincapie after it put Freiburg firmly in management.
Leverkusen needed to wait until the 82nd minute for Florian Wirtz to tug one again together with his workforce’s first shot on track. Jonathan Tah equalized with the following in stoppage time, nevertheless it made no distinction for the brand new league champion.
“We are the champions!” Kane sang with teammates in a Munich restaurant, the place he and Joshua Kimmich have been doused in beer or champagne as they sang Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”
It’s Bayern’s record-extending thirty fourth German championship together with the primary for the membership in 1932. Each different title got here after the Bundesliga’s formation in 1963.
Bayern can be introduced with the trophy after its dwelling sport in opposition to Borussia Mönchengladbach subsequent weekend, when Müller can be given what’s positive to be an emotional send-off after 25 years on the membership.
“He’s going as a legend,” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann stated of Müller’s 13 Bundesliga titles.
Champions League battle heats up
Freiburg’s draw stored it fourth within the remaining place for Champions League qualification, only a level forward of a resurgent Borussia Dortmund and two forward of Leipzig.
Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt stayed 4 factors away from Freiburg with a 1-1 draw at Mainz within the late sport.
Solely the highest 4 groups qualify for Europe’s premier membership competitors.
Earlier, Holstein Kiel boosted its hopes of avoiding the drop with a 3-1 win at Augsburg. It moved Kiel one level behind Heidenheim, which occupies the relegation playoff place. Kiel subsequent performs Freiburg, then Dortmund.