Bayern Munich ended their season with a draw at home to lowly Hoffenheim, thanks to some resilient defending from the visitors.
Isabella Hartig gave Hoffenheim a shock lead after the break, with Bayern's Mana Iwabuchi making it 1-1 five minutes later. Hoffenheim held on, with a point enough to ensure that they finished above out of form SC Sand on goal difference.
Early openings
Bayern controlled possession in the opening stages and went close to scoring when Sara Däbritz cut in from the left flank and had a shot on goal saved by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Martina Tufekovic. Dutch international Vivienne Miedema's also had a strike saved by the excellent Tufekovic, and Iwabuchi's shot went just over the bar.
Play was stopped half an hour into the game, after a clash between Iwabuchi and Hoffenheim defender Kristin Demann, leaving the latter in need of medical treatment. Play was resumed shortly after, and despite Bayern's dominance on the ball, they couldn't find a way past the visitors.
Neither side made many substitutions after the break. Hoffenheim started the second half brightly, showing some attacking intent but Bayern got their rhythm back and normality was resumed. However, ten minutes after half time, Hoffenheim attacker Nicole Billa put in a measured cross from the right hand side, and Hartig's clever header put the visitors in a shock lead.
Hoffenheim take shock lead, but Bayern bite back
Bayern levelled the score on the hour mark, as a cross into the box by Däbritz was deflected off of Vanessa Bürki's head and Mana Iwabuchi was on hand to volley home, making it 1-1. Just moments later, Hoffenheim fluffed a golden chance to restore the lead, after Billa, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, put the ball just wide of the post.
The introduction of Veronica Boquette shortly afterwards was met with a mixed reactions, with certain sections of the support unhappy with her comments in the past week. There were half chances for both teams, as a fumble by Tufekovic almost had Bayern in the lead, and some superb ball control and volley by Demann was superbly saved by Bayern's Tinja-Riikka Korpela.
Both the teams made changes hoping to gain an upper hand, with Laura Feiersinger and Raffaella Manieri coming on for Vivianne Miedema and Vanessa Burki respectively. Hoffenheim too made all three changes; Stephanie Breitner, Lina Burger and Emily Evels replacing Christine Schneider, Nicole Billa and and Dora Zeller.
The final stages of the game were controlled by Bayern, with Hoffenheim having a few counter attacks to show for their efforts. For all their possession, the hosts barely threatened going forward.
The full time whistle was just the beginning of celebrations for Bayern who celebrated in front of the fans, having also celebrated the title along with the men's team during the week. The draw ensured Bayern finished the season on 57 points, having lost just one game all season, having conceded an astonishingly low eight goals. It also ended a difficult season for Hoffenheim who finished eighth on the table with 28 points.