Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title on Sunday despite a 0-0 draw at VfL Wolfsburg.
Bayern became German champion for the 21st time, including a 1932 title which came before the league was formed.
The latest trophy wiped away some of the sting of a bitter UEFA Cup exit last week against Russia’s Zenit St Petersburg.
PHOTO: EPA
“The team was flat and it wasn’t a good match, but that makes the fact that we won the title even better,” said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. “Now we’ve put St Petersburg behind us. Now we will party.”
“This was a special season, the expectations were enormous,” Hitzfeld said. “A huge amount was invested in the team, so becoming German champions is a satisfaction.”
The team also collected its seventh double after winning the German Cup two weeks ago.
Bayern players threw beer on each other and management from giant glasses in the traditional celebration for the country.
“It wasn’t a good match, but any time you win the title early, you just have to be happy,” Bayern defender Marcell Jansen said.
The draw moved Bayern 10 points ahead of second-place Werder Bremen with three games remaining.
Toni Kroos had Bayern’s best chance in the 73rd minute, putting a shot just outside the right post. But it became clear that neither team was going to be able to score in the final minutes, handing the title to Bayern.
Several thousand Bayern fans among the 30,000 at Wolfsburg’s stadium began to chant and cheer as the final seconds ticked away on the stadium clock.
“This was a great, great season,” Bayern manager Uli Hoeness said. “Unlike most people I remember we lost in the UEFA Cup semi-finals, not the first round.”
Also on Sunday, MSV Duisburg beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 to move out of last place.
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