Bayern Munich’s chances of sealing the Bundesliga title mathematically slipped away as they drew 3-3 with Leipzig on Saturday. The team had been so confident of winning that they had even planned a celebratory trip to Ibiza – which has now been put on hold.
The Bavarians hold a 9-point lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, with a significantly better goal difference (+61 vs +31). They’re waiting for the outcome of Freiburg’s match against Leverkusen on Sunday.
Joshua Kimmich wants to celebrate the title on the pitch, not at home. He’s keen on winning it outright next Saturday against Borussia Monchengladbach. If the title is confirmed today, Kimmich joked that the team might still find a way to celebrate in Ibiza. “We’ll just have to go our separate ways. That way, no one will notice,” he said, as reported by Bild.
Kimmich hopes Leverkusen wins against Freiburg. “I still hope Leverkusen beats Freiburg,” he said after the draw.
Club management vetoes Ibiza trip
The players had planned to charter a private jet to Ibiza to celebrate the title for three days before returning to training on Wednesday. However, the club’s management put a stop to those plans.
“We heard about it and talked to the team. We said it wasn’t appropriate. The season is still ongoing,” said Sporting Director Max Eberl on Sky. “We’re in the middle of the competition, and European spots and relegation are still being decided. We could be accused of influencing the league if there were bad results.”
Kimmich is already considering the team champions. “Honestly, we’re already German champions. I don’t think Leverkusen will win 7-0 three times and we’ll lose 5-0 twice. Unless they take points away from us…”
Muller: confident in math and experience
Thomas Muller’s sentiment echoes Kimmich’s. Despite suffering a late equalizer, Muller celebrated as if they’d won a big game. “I understand math, and I’ve got some experience under my belt. I feel like we’re champions, but we’re not there yet. We’ll sort it out next week.”