Bayern Munich was unable to maintain their hold on the second place in the Bundesliga, closing a dismal season with a 4-2 defeat against Hoffenheim, in which Andrej Kramaric scored a hat-trick. This loss resulted in Bayern conceding the runner-up spot to Stuttgart, who achieved their best position since winning the title in the 2006/2007 season.
A Season to Forget for Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel's men have nothing to celebrate this year. Gradually, since August, they have lost all their titles. They were defeated by Leipzig in the German Super Cup; knocked out by third-division Saarbrücken in the DFB-Pokal's round of 16; thwarted in the Bundesliga by Bayer Leverkusen; and eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals.
Adding to the trophy room void, this Saturday's setback with the loss of the runner-up position marks another disappointment. Since the 2010/11 season, Bayern has always finished in one of the top two positions. That distant 2011 was the last time they did not finish as champions or runners-up, ending third behind Dortmund and Leverkusen. They followed that with a second place and eleven consecutive titles.
Now, under Tuchel's leadership, Bayern has recorded their worst finish in thirteen years in the Bundesliga, marking a bad year that breaks their near-decade-and-a-half dominance of German football. Additionally, this result means they will not be able to compete in the German Super Cup next season.
