Bayern overcome bizarre own goal to clinch another title

Bayern Munich’s Juan Bernat and team mates celebrate wining the league with a replica trophy at the end of the match - REUTERS 

Berlin (Reuters): Bayern Munich clinched a sixth successive Bundesliga title with five games to spare on Saturday (7 April) by winning 4-1 win at Augsburg despite falling behind to a bizarre own goal.

Bayern’s celebrations looked in danger of being delayed when the ball went into their net off their own defender Niklas Suele. However, Corentin Tolisso and James Rodriguez replied for the Bavarians before halftime before Arjen Robben and Sandro Wagner put the finishing touches in the second half.

Bayern, who have 72 points from 29 games, moved 20 ahead of Schalke 04, who later lost 3-2 to lowly Hamburg SV.

It was a remarkable personal achievement for Bayern’s 72-year-old coach Jupp Heynckes, who came out of retirement in October to replace Carlo Ancelotti for his fourth stint at the club with Bayern five points off the pace.He led them to 19 wins in 22 Bundesliga matches on his way to claiming a fourth Bundesliga title as coach, all with Bayern. “I’d like to send my best wishes to Carlo Ancelotti in Italy,” said Heynckes. “This title is also for him. He is a fantastic coach.”

Bayern have won 28 German titles altogether.

Hamburg, the only-ever present club in the Bundesliga’s 55-year history, moved off the bottom of the table and handed themselves a lifeline when Aaron Hunt’s 30-metre strike in the 84th minute gave them the points against Schalke.

Hamburg, 17th in the 18-team table, were replaced at the bottom by Cologne who were held 1-1 at home by Mainz 05 in a relegation dogfight. Hamburg are still five points adrift of Mainz with Cologne a further point behind.