When the Bundesliga’s Underdogs Took Over

The Bundesliga has long been known for its attacking football, passionate fans, and the enduring dominance of Bayern Munich.

But beneath the glitz of packed stadiums and powerhouse clubs, the clubs are fuelled by unpredictability and the underdogs who refuse to play by the script. 

From struggling sides beating title contenders to fairytale seasons nobody saw coming, these moments remind fans why they love the game in the first place.

 

FC Kaiserslautern’s title win as a newly promoted side (1997/98)

Not just one game, but an entire season of defiance. In 1997, FC Kaiserslautern had just returned to the Bundesliga after being relegated the previous year. No one had big expectations for the club, and survival would have been enough.

But Otto Rehhagel did the unthinkable: winning the title. They opened their season campaign with a 1-0 victory over reigning champions Bayern Munich, and followed this with another 1-0 win against Hertha BSC. This set the tone for a historic season, as they became the only club in Bundesliga history to win the championship immediately after promotion.

 

Augsburg ending the Invincibles dream (2014)

In the 2013/14 season, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich looked unstoppable. They had already won the league in record time, and were on course to go the entire season unbeaten. But the European Champions’ dreams were crushed by the modest underdog side of FC Augsburg.

Sascha Molders scored the only goal of the game, and Augsburg’s 1-0 win ended Bayern’s incredible 53-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga, their first league defeat since October 2012. It was also the first time Bayern went goalless in a league game since April 14 2012.

 

Frankfurt’s five-star display (2019)

Niko Kovac knew Eintracht Frankfurt well, having led them to victory in the 2018 DFB-Pokal Final. But this time, he was back on the opposite bench, in charge of Bayern Munich. His former club tore Bayern apart 5-1 in one of the most shocking and surreal afternoons in Bundesliga history.

The scoreline wasn’t just a defeat, it was humiliation. The result sent Bayern falling to fourth in the league and subsequently cost Kovac his job, as he was sacked the following day.

Bayern eventually went on to win the treble under Hansi Flick, but Frankfurt’s victory became a symbol of what makes the Bundesliga special.

 

Bayern finish outside the top three (2006/07)

The 2006/07 season was the first time that Bayern Munich failed to finish the league inside the top three, and this was all thanks to two exceptional sides: VfB Stuttgart and Schalke 04, who both set the tone for the league early on.

Both Stuttgart and Schalke won 21 games during the season, with SV Werder Bremen trailing just behind with 20 wins. Bayern ended the season in fourth place with 18 wins.

In the end, it was Stuttgart, the youngest squad in the Bundesliga that year, who held their nerve to clinch the title. They won on goal difference, having scored three more than their closest rival, and capped off a remarkable campaign which upset fans across the country.