BERLIN: 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-placed Wolfsburg's game 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 he chases a repeat of the treble they won months before he arrived in 2013.
"It is something magnificent to defend our title and I can only congratulate our coach 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 Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals and have also reached the German Cup last four where they take on Borussia Dortmund.
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 any domestic opposition in the league.
"It's amazing to win three league titles in three years with Bayern," midfielder Javi Martinez, one of those sidelined with injury for months this season, wrote on Twitter. "Today is a very happy day."
Bayern have lost twice so far and conceded 13 goals in 30 matches, a record for this stage of the Bundesliga.
"Have no doubt, we will have big celebrations," Rummenigge said. "But everything at the right time. Then we will party."
Reuters, 2015
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