Bundesliga Column - Round 32: Dortmund are champions!

Round 32 of the 2011/12 Bundesliga season saw champions Borussia Dortmund defend their title from last season with a rather easy 2-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach while 1.FC Kaiserslautern returned to winning ways against Hertha BSC Berlin but still were relegated while Hertha's relegation threat grew further with the defeat.

Dortmund went into the third last round of the season with an eight point lead and knowing if Bayern Munich don't win in Bremen then the would have won the title before playing their Saturday evening match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. But Bayern Munich scored a 90th minute winner through individual brilliance from substitute Franck Ribery to beat Werder Bremen 2-1 in an afternoon match.

Now Dortmund wanted to seal the title this weekend at home rather then wait another week and win the title away. The team showed what it did all season - direct power football which didn't leave any real chances to Gladbach. Goals from Ivan Perisic and Shinji Kagawa on either side of the break sealed the victory. Thereafter it was party time in Dortmund!

Meanwhile in the relegation race the two bottom clubs Hertha BSC Berlin and 1.FC Kaiserslautern met at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Hertha hoped to close the gap or overtake FC Cologne who are in the 16th spot relegation playoff spot, but the club from the capital suffered a 1-2 defeat against Kaiserslautern, their first win after 21 winless matches.

FC Cologne meanwhile showed a marked improvement against an in-form VfB Stuttgart but in the end had to settle for a one-all draw, which was also the result between FC Augsburg vs FC Schalke 04 and 1.FC Nürnberg vs Hamburger SV. With two matches to play Augsburg remain four points ahead of Cologne, while Hamburg have five points more then the Rhineland club.


Round 32 Results

1.FSV Mainz 05 0-0 VfL Wolfsburg
SV Werder Bremen 1-2 FC Bayern München
1.FC Köln 1-1 VfB Stuttgart
Hertha BSC Berlin 1-2 1.FC Kaiserslautern
1899 Hoffenheim 0-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
1.FC Nürnberg 1-1 Hamburger SV
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
FC Augsburg 1-1 FC Schalke 04
Hannover 96 0-0 SC Freiburg