Bizarre Fan Tributes Mark Goretzka's Bayern Farewell

The mystery of the board shorts with Leon Goretzka's face became the talk of German football this weekend as Bayern Munich celebrated a 3-2 victory over Freiburg. After the final whistle, a pair of enormous board shorts emblazoned with pictures of Goretzka's face found their way down to the pitch from the stands, creating one of the most unusual scenes of the Bundesliga season.

Goalscorer Tom Bischof tried—and failed—to get Goretzka to put the shorts on, but teammate Serge Gnabry was more than happy to oblige, dancing away as Bayern celebrated a win that kept them nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

The Celebration Gets Stranger

The bizarre tribute didn't stop there. At Europa-Park, Josip Stanisic, Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano were seen holding up a giant flag of a topless Goretzka as Gnabry continued his dance celebration. The lighthearted moment came as Goretzka prepares to leave Bayern Munich in the summer after eight years at the club, having won everything there is to win.

While Goretzka's popularity has waned in recent years and some parts of the fanbase have grown frustrated with his diminishing impact relative to his hefty salary, that frustration has partly given way to this sort of highjinks since it was announced in January that he would not be renewing his contract.

Goretzka took it all in good humor, giggling his way through the post-game celebrations. When asked what happened to the unusual items afterwards, teammate Joshua Kimmich reassured reporters that the shorts and giant poster were returned to their owner. "The fan wanted it back. That was important to him," Kimmich said.

Bayern's Injury Updates Ahead of Champions League

The celebrations come as Bayern prepare for a crucial Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Tuesday. Harry Kane's involvement is still questionable, although the club are confident he will be fit to start. Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies both returned from injury against Freiburg, with Davies assisting Lennart Karl's late winning goal.

Social media captured the team's unity, with one fan posting: "Look how happy everyone was for him. Look how Kompany and the whole Team from the Bench went to Phonzy After his last Minute assist on Karl. What a Team, This is Mia San Mia."

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga: Tensions Flare in Stuttgart

While Bayern celebrated in good spirits, tensions flared at the Neckarstadion hours later during the match between Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. The game wasn't a classic, but a 93rd-minute goal from Karim Adeyemi won it for Dortmund, followed by a superb angled drive from Julian Brandt that removed any doubt. Dortmund (2nd) effectively have their Champions League qualification secured, while Stuttgart (4th) still have work to do.

Tempers flared between the two sets of players after each goal, with fans from the Cannstatter Kurve—where the ultras stand—baited down to pitchside. After the first goal, several appeared to take exception to Adeyemi's celebration, with beer cups and salty language discharged from behind the advertising hoardings.

The tension had historical context: when the two sides faced each other in November, Deniz Undav scored a very late equalizer—the third goal of a hat-trick—to snatch a point, before "shushing" all four sides of a crestfallen Westfalenstadion. On Saturday, Adeyemi returned the favor, putting his finger to his lips after winning the game, provoking both fans and Stuttgart players, including Undav who was quickly on the scene pointing fingers.

The second goal in the 96th minute drew an even worse response. Brandt scored fabulously and again gestured towards the Cannstatter Kurve in celebration, causing another confrontation. At one point, a steward's collapsible chair was flung onto the pitch WWE-style, as if someone was imminently about to be cracked around the head.

Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness and Undav, who is having a prolific goalscoring season with 18 goals in 24 games, were both critical of the fans afterwards, and the DFB sports court will almost certainly get involved.