Juan’s enough for champions
BAYERN MUNICH celebrated their latest title success with a 1-0 victory over Darmstadt, who were relegated.
The hosts, back at the Allianz Arena for the first time since clinching a fifth consecutive Bundesliga crown with a 6-0 rout at Wolfsburg, ran out narrow winners thanks to Juan Bernat’s early goal.
Darmstadt were thrown a lifeline when awarded a late penalty but ex-bayern midfielder Hamit Altintop saw his effort saved by keeper Tom Starke.
The visitors had shown signs of life recently with three straight wins delaying their inevitable relegation, but despite another plucky display their fate was sealed with two matches remaining.
Their keeper, Michael Esser, had already made saves to keep out David Alaba’s header and Rafinha’s angled drive, but he was powerless to prevent Bernat opening the scoring on 18 minutes.
Bayern were pinging the ball around at will until it reached Franck Ribery down the left, and the French winger found Bernat in the area.
The full-back showed quick feet to evade Patrick Banggaard’s challenge before lifting the ball past Esser.
With five minutes to go Bernat tripped Sven Schipplock inside the box to concede a penalty but Starke got down to block Altintop’s spot-kick.
Ribery almost put the seal on Bayern’s victory at the death but his volley came back off the post.