Bavarians clinch eighth straight German top flight title

Robert Lewandowski said Bayern Munich had proved they are the best club in Germany after securing their eighth straight Bundesliga title on Tuesday as the Polish striker’s first-half volley saw them claim a 1-0 win at Werder Bremen.

Bayern were confirmed German champions for the 30th time in the club’s proud history to maintain their iron-grip on the Bundesliga shield in recent years.

“We have showed that we are the best team in Germany,” said Lewandowski.

Lewandowski struck two minutes before the break with a brilliant chest and low strike, but Bayern had to endure a nervy final 11 minutes after teenage left-back Alphonso Davies was sent off for a second yellow card.

At the end of a first 45 minutes dominated by Bremen’s dogged defending and pouring rain, Bayern broke through when centre-back Jerome Boateng chipped over the top for Lewandowski to score.

It was the Poland striker’s 31st league goal of the season, a career best, keeping him on course to be named the league’s top scorer for the fifth time.

The result means club stalwart Thomas Mueller now equals the league record of former Bayern great Franck Ribery with his ninth Bundesliga title.

Head coach Hansi Flick landed the Bundesliga title in his first season in charge having stepped in when Niko Kovac was sacked last November.

Even the coronavirus lockdown could not stop Bayern’s momentum, with the champions winning eight consecutive games in all competitions since the resumption of German football last month.

Flick, assistant coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup, could land the treble as Bayern face Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup final on July 4 and hold a 3-0 first-leg lead over Chelsea in the Champions League last 16. “This is Bayern Munich, the goals are always high,” said Flick after club president Hainer Herbert had said the treble is the goal this season.

“We have now reached our first big goal, the cup is now the next goal, then the Champions League, but you can’t plan for that.”

The home defeat means Bremen, who are three points from guaranteed safety with two games left, badly need a result at fellow strugglers Mainz this Saturday or against Cologne at home on the final day of the season.

Elsewhere, Borussia Monchengladbach overpowered Wolfsburg 3-0. While last placed Paderborn was relegated into the second division after losing 0-1 to newly-promoted Union Berlin, who remain another season in Germany’s top flight.