Bayern Munich wins Bundesliga
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich won a third straight Bundesliga title after VfL Wolfsburg lost at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday to leave the champions with an unassailable 15-point lead with four games left.
Bayern, who have now claimed a total of 25 German league titles including one before the Bundesliga’s creation in 1963, beat Hertha Berlin 1-0 on Saturday but had to put the champagne on ice until after second-placedWolfsburg’sgame on Sunday.
Gladbach’s Max Kruse scored in the 90th minute for a 1-0 victory that ended any mathematical chance of Wolfsburg catching the Bavarians. It also put second place in danger with Gladbach four points behind on 57 in third.
The Bundesliga title is the second for Bayern coach Pep Guardiola in his second season at the club, as the Spaniard chases a repeat of the league, cup and Champions League treble they won months before he arrived in 2013.
“It is something magnificent to defend our title and I can only congratulate our coach
“You can compare the 25th title to a silver anniversary,” Germany great and honorary Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said.“They played an outstanding first half of the season despite the energy-sapping World Cup.
and players,” said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in a statement.
“They did it extremely well in a year after a World Cup where many of our players were competing.” Bayern, domestic double winners last season, face Guardiola’s old club Barcelona in the Champions’ League semifinals next month and have also reached the German Cup last four where they take on Borussia Dortmund next week.
“You can compare the 25th title to a silver anniversary,” Germany great and honorary Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer said. “They played an outstanding first half of the season despite the energysappingWorld Cup.A25th title needs special mention.”
Despite being plagued by injuries to key players throughout the season, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery and Philipp Lahm, Bayern showed nerves of steel as they dismantled every domestic opposition in the league.