Top 10 Most Memorable Moments in Bundesliga History

Oliver Kahn of FC Bayern
Oliver Kahn of FC Bayern Munich waves his hand during his lap of honor at his farewell match between FC Bayern Munich and Germany at the Allianz Arena on 2nd September 2008 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Tsutomu Takasu)

The German Bundesliga is one of the most popular football leagues in the world. With a rich history of success and memorable moments, it has become the go-to destination for millions of football fans globally.

From legendary teams and players to incredible goals and dramatic finishes, the Bundesliga has it all.

So, as an ardent football lover, let us take you through some of the most memorable moments in Bundesliga history that made us all fall in love with the beautiful game.

What Are The Best Moments In Bundesliga History?

1. Stuttgart’s Incredible Comeback To Win Bundesliga Title (2006/2007)

During the 2006/07 season, VfB Stuttgart was not a contender to win the Bundesliga. In the year before they had finished 9th. Plus, they had the youngest squad in the competition, and they started the campaign with a 0-3 defeat against Nurnberg.

Then they picked another home defeat against Dortmund and were even in relegation zone. Their comeback after that was incredible and winning their last 8 games of the season, they achieved their 5th Bundesliga title.

2. Leverkusen’s Remarkable League Campaign (2001/2002)

During the 2001/02 season, Bayer Leverkusen had a shot at winning three major competitions: the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

After securing a place in the final of all three competitions, they were poised for an extraordinary treble. However, heartbreak was just around the corner as they went on to lose all three matches, solidifying their unexpected but unwanted status as the ‘Eternal Second’.

3. The Kutzop Penalty (1985/1986)

Most football or soccer fans probably yawn when they see a 0-0 result. Well, what if we tell you that one of the most memorable moments in the German topflight history was a goalless draw?

Back in April 1986 Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen were separated by 2 points, meaning that a victory from Bremen would make the team cruise to the Bundesliga title. After 88 minutes of nothing, a penalty kick was awarded against Bayern.

Michael Kutzop, who had never failed a penalty kick in his career, stepped up in the penalty spot, but hit the post.

The game ended in a draw and in the final game of the season Bayern won 6-0, while Werder Bremen lost their game. Tied in points, it would go down to goal difference. Kutzop missed penalty would have made the difference in the title-race.

4. Schalke from heaven to hell in 4 minutes (2000/2001)

Before fast internet connection and social media, fake news would spread easier. There were no live scores on SoccerAntenna.com to track the results and players had to rely on pocket radio devices that they would take to the stadium.

In 2001 Schalke had won their last game of the season and Bayern was losing against Hamburg, meaning that the Royal Blues would be crowned champions.

However, while the Schalke fans were already celebrating, the game between Bayern and Hamburg had not finished yet.

In the last minute, Patrik Andersson scored to level the game for Bayern and set the Bavarians as champions, leaving the Schalke fans, players and staff completely desolated.

5. Bayern’s 9-2 demolition of Hamburg (2012/2013)

The 2012/2023 Bundesliga campaign witnessed one of the most stunning displays ever as Bayern Munich dominated and demolished Hamburg SV by a jaw-dropping score of 9-2.

The Bavarians were too much for Hamburg, with a total of five goal scorers, including 4 goals from Claudio Pizarro.

6. Bayern Munich’s 2012/2013 Treble Win

Bayern Munich’s 2012/2013 treble win was one of the most remarkable performances in Bundesliga history.

The team became the first German team to win the treble plus the Bundesliga title, the DFB-Pokal, and the Champions League.

This stunning feat solidified Bayern’s place as one of Europe’s elite teams and made them a force to be reckoned with.

They would repeat the feat in 2019-2020, although that feat was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the games in the second half of the season being played in stadiums without fans.

7. Robert Lewandowski’s Breaks Gerd Muller’s Goal Record (2020/21)

Gerd Muller is one of the greatest strikers the world has ever seen. In the 1971/1972 season, the Bayern Munich legend scored 40 goals, which was for 40 years the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single Bundesliga season.

Muller’s record stood until 2020/21, when Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored 41, also for Bayern Munich. A memorable moment for the player who is also fondly remembered by another incredible game that happened a few years before.

8. Nine Minutes, 5 Goals, 1 Player (2015/16)

In 2015 Bayern Munich was under the leadership of Pep Guardiola and they obliterated Wolfsburg 5×1. It would just be another normal victory for the Bavarians, but this one made headlines for a simple reason: all the goals from Bayern were scored in 9 minutes, by the same player, Robert Lewandowski, of course.

The team from Munich was actually losing at half-time, thanks to a goal from Daniel Caligiuri and then Robert came on. He scored in the minutes 51, 52, 55, 57 and 60, becoming the first player to score 5 goals in a Bundesliga game since 1991.

Plus, the record for a team scoring 5 goals the fastest was held in 21 minutes. Lewandowski, alone, halved it to simply nine minutes. Incredible.

9. Schalke 04 Player Gets Bitten By A Dog (1969/1970)

Since Bundesliga celebrated 60 years in 2023, you can bet that many memorable moments are still in black and white. This is one of them, a story that seems surreal for today’s football.

Well back in September 1969, Schalke 04 had just taken the lead in the derby against Borussia Dortmund, while Rex, a German shepherd, invaded the pitch and bit Schalke’s Friedel Rausch on his buttocks. Perhaps Rex was a Dortmund fan?

At the time there were no substitutions, so Rausch took a tetanus injection and kept on playing. The game ended up in a 1-1 draw.

10. Bayern Conquers Record 11th Title At The Expense Of Dortmund’s Slip

After 10 consecutive titles, Bayern’s dominance was about to come to an end and all it would take would be for Borussia Dortmund to win their game.

As Bayern slipped against RB Leipzig, Dortmund was 1 point ahead and everything was up to them: if they won their last game, they would be crowned champions after 10 years.

The final game was at home against Mainz, but the dream turned into a nightmare. Andreas Olsen opened the score for the visitors and Onisiwo doubled it a few moments later. Dortmund arrived at half time losing for two, while Bayern was already winning their game.

The Yellow Wall helped Dortmund to come back and conquer a 2-2 draw, but it was not enough, as Bayern won 1-2 against Koln and became Bundesliga champions for a record 11th time in a row.

Conclusion

The Bundesliga has a rich history with countless memorable moments that have left football lovers worldwide in awe.

From incredible goals and thrilling finishes to legendary players and teams, the Bundesliga has produced some of the most iconic moments in football history.

Looking back at these memorable moments is a wonderful reminder of why we all fell in love with this beautiful game.

So, whether you are a seasoned fan or just getting started, watching old Bundesliga games and reliving these memorable moments is always a great idea.

About Jorge Costa 140 Articles
Jorge Costa is a freelance journalist, with a Masters Degree in Journalism and Communication, through the University of Coimbra, Portugal. He specializes in sports and soccer in particular.

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