Borussia Dortmund end a turbulent campaign, described by chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke as "the most difficult season since the almost-bankruptcy" in 2005, in fourth position. The Black & Yellows achieve their most important objective of the season – qualification for the UEFA Champions League – by the skin of their teeth.

When Marco Reus levels the score at 1-1 in the 59th minute of the final-day fixture in Hoffenheim, it initially looks as though the first home defeat of Stöger's tenure – a 2-1 loss to 1. FSV Mainz 05 a week earlier – will not prove too costly. But the Sinsheim outfit subsequently score twice in quick succession to go 3-1 ahead and leapfrog Dortmund in the table. Elsewhere, Leverkusen's win over Hannover 96 draws them level on points with the Black & Yellows in the race for the Champions League and it is only goal difference that separates the sides in BVB's favour in the end.

"We got off lightly. Today was yet another demonstration of the fact that we're not currently playing the football we want to be playing," says Julian Weigl after the final whistle sounds in Sinsheim. Nuri Sahin does not pull any punches either. "We need to be totally honest: we weren't any better than fourth place this season. In the end I'm happy that we managed to drag ourselves over the line."

The end of the season means it is time to honour the retiring Roman Weidenfeller, a man who made 453 competitive appearances in goal for Borussia Dortmund and helped the club win two Bundesliga titles and two DFB Cups. Other notable achievements include winning the World Cup and reaching the UEFA Champions League final. After the match in Mainz, the fans summon him to the fence and then hold him aloft in a sea of Black & Yellow in the South Stand. He was brought on off the bench shortly before the final whistle for one final hurrah before retirement.
Boris Rupert