Bayer Leverkusen completes unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga season and Cologne relegated

BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich never accomplished it.

Bayer Leverkusen made history on Saturday by becoming the first team since the Bundesliga's inception in 1963 to complete an entire season undefeated.

Early goals from Victor Boniface and Robert Andrich secured the league champions a 2-1 victory over Augsburg in their final season match.

The victory marked their 28th win in 34 Bundesliga matches.

Leverkusen, who clinched the title in April, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year dominance, is the first team to finish an unbeaten season in any of Europe’s top five leagues since Juventus in the 2011-12 Italian Serie A.

Leverkusen has remained undefeated in all competitions this season, boasting a 51-game unbeaten streak.

Despite having control over Augsburg, Mert Kömür scored in the 62nd minute, prompting Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso to bring on star players Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, whom he had been resting ahead of the Europa League and German Cup finals next week.

COLOGNE DEMOTED, UNION SAFE

Local rival Cologne faced relegation as their hopes of avoiding the drop vanished in a 4-1 defeat at Heidenheim.

“It’s unfortunate, such a pity. To say sorry perhaps lacks a little respect,” said Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe in response to the fans' angry reaction.  

Janik Haberer scored in stoppage time, securing Union Berlin's survival with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Freiburg.

Union's path to safety was fraught with tension as they missed a penalty, conceded an equalizer with five minutes left, and missed another penalty in stoppage time. Fortunately, Haberer was there to fire in the rebound, sending beer cups flying across the stadium.

Union's win resulted in Bochum dropping to the relegation playoff spot after a 4-1 defeat at Werder Bremen.

Bochum will now face Fortuna Düsseldorf over two legs to determine which team will play in the Bundesliga next season. Düsseldorf finished third in the second division.

Mainz secured its survival with a 3-1 win at Wolfsburg.

BAYERN ONLY THIRD

Stuttgart clinched second place at Bayern Munich's expense with a commanding 4-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Bayern fell to a 4-2 defeat against Hoffenheim in Thomas Tuchel’s final game as coach.

“Another bitter defeat,” said a furious Tuchel, a day after revealing that talks about extending his stay at the club had fallen through.

Bayern’s third-place finish is their worst since coming behind 2011 winners Borussia Dortmund and Leverkusen. It marks the Bavarian powerhouse’s first trophyless season since 2012.

Stuttgart's 73 points set a club record, a remarkable turnaround after fighting relegation in the previous two seasons.

REUS’ BIG DAY

Marco Reus led Dortmund to a 4-0 victory over last-placed Darmstadt. The 34-year-old, who is leaving after 12 years at the end of the season, was handed the captain’s armband for his last Bundesliga game with Dortmund. He starred by setting up Ian Maatsen for the opener before scoring with a brilliant free kick.

Dortmund now faces Real Madrid in the Champions League final on June 1.

A Dortmund win would benefit Eintracht Frankfurt, which finished sixth in the Bundesliga after drawing 2-2 with Leipzig. If Dortmund defeats Madrid, Frankfurt will qualify for Europe’s premier competition.

AP Sports Writer James Ellingworth in Leverkusen contributed.