Bayern Munich locks 22nd Bundesliga title
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| Bayern overpowered Bochum 3-1 thanks to a triple by youngster striker Thomas Mueller to lock the 22nd Bundesliga title on Saturday, while Bremen destroyed Schalkes' champion dreams with a 2-0 victory. |
In the 18th minute, Thomas Mueller deflected a cross by defender Phillip Lahm with his chest to open the scoring.
Only two minutes later, Bayern doubled the lead as Lahm passed across the goal to Franck Ribery, who volleyed the ball back into the area for a running Mueller to head under the crossbar.
Bayern retracted and lurked for counters but Bochum was absolutely unable to threat Bayern's defence.
With 69 minutes into the match, Mueller shrugged off three Bochum defenders and netted into bottom left to complete his hat-trick.
In the dying minutes, Bochum was able to shorten the score to 3-1. Defender Christian Fuchs scored with a lovely dead ball goal into top left corner.
Bayern remains on top of the table with 67 points, followed by Schalke with 64 points and Leverkusen with 60 points, while Bochum slipped from 16th to 17th position.
Meanwhile, Schalke failed to grab the last title chance after they lost 2-0 to Bremen. Both staged an evenly match from the start.
As the match progressed, Schalke took over control but they failed to exploit their scoring opportunities within the first half. Ten minutes into second half Bremen stunned Schalke with the opener by Mesut Oezil.
Oezil overcame Schalke defence and slotted into far corner.
With 64 minutes into the match, Mesut Oezil exploited a black out by Schalke defender Heiko Westermann and passed into path of striker Hugo Almeida who netted the pass from close distance to double the lead.
Schalke failed to turn the table within the final whistle due to the well-positioned defence by Bremen.
Bremen sits on third position with 60 points while Schalke sticks to second with 64 points.
Leverkusen pitchforked Berlin into relegation.
Leverkusen was from the start the better team but it was Berlin that surprisingly opened the scoring with 12 minutes into the match.
Hertha striker Raffael volleyed a cross by striker Thoefanis Gekas into bottom left. Hertha wasted opportunity after opportunity to double the lead.
Finally, Leverkusen destroyed Hertha Berlins hopes to remain in first division with the equalizer at the 59th minute by Leverkusen defender Manuel Friedrich.
Leverkusen was close to turn around but they remained short on accuracy at last, which remains on fourth position with a two-point distance to a Champions League spot. Berlin sits at last position and will climb down into second division for next season.
Dortmund shared points with defending champion Wolfsburg after a 1-1.
Dortmund had the chance at the 35th minute but midfielder Nuri Sahin wasted the penalty due to the save by Wolfsburg goalie Diego Benaglio.
With the start of the second half, Dortmund handed over control. At the 69th minute Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko opened the scoring with a back heel goal from close distance.
Dortmund frantically pressed for the equalizer but they had to wait until the 81st minute when youngster striker Marco Stiepermann marked his first Bundesliga goal ever.
Both teams remain on their positions, Dortmund on fifth and Wolfsburg on eighth.
Elsewhere, Stuttgart turned around a 2-0 deficit thanks to striker Cirprian Marica who donated two goals in two minutes to seal one point for Stuttgart.
Hamburg humiliated new boys Nuremberg 4-0 after the bitter exit from Euroepan League in Fulham.
One goal by midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa, two goals by striker Mladen Petric and one goal by striker Ruud van Nistelrooy were enough to give Nuremberg a lesson. Hannover whitewashed Monchengladbach 6-1 to jump out of relegation zone while Cologne drew Freiburg 2-2.
