Open-top bus parades DFB Cup around the Borsigplatz

The triumph in the capital was to be the final act of a season unlike any other in Borussia Dortmund's 108-year history. "This title is the crowning conclusion to our season. I've never experienced as much as I have this season – both on and off the pitch," declared goalkeeper Roman Bürki. "We showed that we really wanted to win," emphasised Marcel Schmelzer after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 74th final of the DFB Cup.

The 74,322 fans at the Olympiastadion in Berlin created a wonderful atmosphere. Dortmund capitalised on Frankfurt's nervy start and went 1-0 up courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé's goal on eight minutes, but the opener did little to help BVB settle and Ante Rebic's equaliser on the half-hour mark was deserved. Only after the break did the Black & Yellows get into the game more. Fabián cleared an Aubameyang scissor-kick off the line and deflected it onto the bar (64), before Hradecky brought down Pulisic and Aubameyang chipped home the resultant spot-kick (69).

"We always battled back, we grew together. Now we're going to enjoy the moment, the night. At times like these, all you feel is a sense of pure joy," said Marco Reus, for whom the victory came at a price. Sprinting for the ball with Timothy Chandler, the attacking midfielder sustained a partial tear of his posterior cruciate ligament, forcing him to undergo surgery and ruling him out until 2018.

Over 250,000 fans decked themselves out in club colours and welcomed their DFB Cup heroes home at the open-top bus parade. One of the highlights of the bus tour was the one and a half laps of the Borsigplatz, which had been closed off hours earlier due to overcrowding. Among those on the bus was Marco Reus, who shortly beforehand had come directly from his medical examination to join in the celebrations.

There was to be a happy ending to the Bundesliga campaign, too. BVB moved up to third spot courtesy of a 2-1 home win over TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 32. Reus put the hosts ahead in the fourth minute and, although Hoffenheim dominated, they never really created clear-cut chances. Aubameyang doubled the lead in the 82nd minute and, while TSG pulled one back from the spot through Kramaric (86), the win never really looked in doubt. The same could be said of the race for third – and the final automatic Champions League spot – with Hoffenheim, however. Because after drawing 1-1 at Augsburg on the penultimate Matchday, Borussia were level on points with TSG and only ahead of Julian Nagelsmann's side by virtue of their slightly superior goal difference (+4). The Black & Yellows totally dominated possession in Bavaria but rarely got into dangerous positions, while Augsburg relied on counters and went ahead through Finnbogason on 28 minutes. Aubameyang levelled within four minutes, but Borussia could not get the winner they deserved.

Fortunately, a dramatic 4-3 victory over Werder Bremen on the final day of the season secured third spot and an automatic UEFA Champions League place for Borussia Dortmund. The 81,360 fans in attendance created a breathtaking atmosphere and were rewarded with a thriller. Goal-line technology was deployed when Bremen took the lead through Junuzovic on six minutes, but Borussia reacted to falling behind by carving out a slew of chances and turned the game around with two excellent goals from Reus (32) and Aubameyang (42). Two Bremen goals, scored by Bartels (46) and Kruse (68) in the second half, put the visitors back in front, but penalties from Reus (74) and Aubameyang (89), whose goal made him the division's top-scorer, were enough to hand Borussia victory. Meanwhile, Marc Bartra made his comeback 39 days after the bomb attack.

The A Juniors successfully defended their title to claim a seventh German Championship! The U19s beat FC Bayern Munich 8-7 on penalties in an exciting and high-quality final in front of a record crowd of 33,500 spectators at Signal Iduna Park. It was the 17th and 18th penalties of the day that finally separated the sides, with BVB goalkeeper Eike Bansen saving from Munich's Tillman before Amos Pieper slotted home.

Roman Weidenfeller signed on for another year. The custodian has been at BVB since 2002, making him the club's longest-serving player.
Boris Rupert