Bayern Munich claim Bundesliga title following Bayer Leverkusen draw
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Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has managed to lead his side to the Bundesliga title in his first season in charge.
PHOTO: AFP
BERLIN – Bayern Munich secured their 34th German league title on May 4 without kicking a ball after title-rivals Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw at SC Freiburg, leaving the leaders with an unassailable eight-point lead with two games left to play.
Leverkusen needed to win to maintain any mathematical chance of claiming the title after Bayern drew 3-3 at RB Leipzig on May 3.
But their result left last season’s champions in second place on 68 points, with Bayern on 76 and sealing their record-extending 33rd Bundesliga title since the introduction of the top-flight league in 1963.
“We can take a moment now to enjoy winning the Bundesliga,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, in his first season at the Bavarian giants, in a club statement.
“What an incredible feeling! I want to congratulate the players for their outstanding effort throughout the season.
“You’ve done this together. You’ve won it as a team. The season’s not over yet and there’s still so much to look forward to. Let’s finish strong, together.”
Bayern will take part in the new-format Club World Cup starting in June in the United States.
The Bavarians, who all gathered in Munich to watch Leverkusen’s game together, will be presented with the league trophy on May 10 in their last home game of the season against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane, who won his first major title at the age of 31, posted a video of himself and teammates singing “We are the Champions” after the end of the Leverkusen game.
The England captain, who two weeks ago broke a league record with his 60th goal in his first 60 league games for Bayern, also looks set to become the first player in Bundesliga history to be crowned top scorer in both his first two seasons.
Freiburg, battling to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League, came out fighting with Leverkusen nowhere to be seen. The hosts scored with Maximilian Eggestein’s slightly deflected shot in the 44th minute and were in complete control.
Freiburg struck again just after the restart with Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie turning the ball into his own net after a goal-mouth scramble.
Leverkusen, whose coach Xabi Alonso looks set to leave at the end of the season with several top clubs, including Real Madrid, eager to sign him, left their comeback until very late.
They cut the deficit with a Florian Wirtz solo effort and superb finish in the 82nd minute and Jonathan Tah then levelled in stoppage time to set up a dramatic finale. But, despite equalling a league record with their 33rd Bundesliga away game without defeat, Leverkusen could not find a third goal in the dying minutes.
“Congratulations to Bayern. It is a deserved league win. They were the better, the more consistent team,” said Alonso, who last season led his team to a domestic league and cup double. AFP
