Bayern Munich secure record fourth straight Bundesliga title
BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayern Munich secured a record fourth consecutive Bundesliga title with a game to spare after a 2-1 victory at Ingolstadt on Saturday helped them put the disappointment of their midweek Champions League semi-final exit behind them.
The Bavarians made sure of their 26th German league title thanks to two goals from top scorer Robert Lewandowski in the first half. They can clinch the double when they take on Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final on May 21 in Berlin.
The first goal from Bayern Munich came as the result of a penalty, awarded after winger Franck Ribery was fouled inside the box. The spot-kick was calmly converted by the Pole, while the striker scored the second after a beautiful pass from Xabi Alonso. Though Ingolstadt scored a goal in the 42nd minute through Moritz Hartmann's penalty, the Bavarian giants held on for the win in the second half.
Borussia Dortmund's 1-0 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt meant that the only challengers to Bayern's title fell eight points behind, which is an insurmountable lead with just one match left.
This title is outgoing manager Pep Guardiola's third straight Bundesliga title, with the Spaniard unable to clinch a Champions League title during his three-year reign at the German giants. Guardiola will now join Manchester City, and having won the Bundesliga again, will be looking to round off his time in Munich with a win in the German Cup final as well, against long-term adversaries Borussia Dortmund.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)