Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title for seventh successive season
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich celebrate with the trophy after winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Bayern Munich won a record-extending seventh consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday after crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish two points ahead of Borussia Dortmund.
The Bavarians, who will secure a domestic double if they beat RB Leipzig in the German Cup final on May 25, have now won the German league title a record 29 times.
"It was no easy season by any means. What the team managed to achieve after a lot of criticism is significant. That is why I would like to thank them all," Bayern coach Niko Kovac said as his team topped the standings with 78 points.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac and assistant coach Robert Kovac celebrate with the trophy after winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
With veterans Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben scoring in their last league game for the club and the Frenchman becoming the first player to win nine Bundesliga titles, victory was also sweet for Kovac.
He spent much of his first season at Bayern under pressure while his future in Munich, despite a contract to 2021, is still in doubt.
"I am convinced that it will continue (here)," Kovac said. "I have first-hand information.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben pours beer as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
"We managed to do something big. We were nine points behind in the autumn so congratulations to my players. I am totally happy but also totally exhausted. Now I hope that we can also win the Cup and celebrate the double," he said.
With two points separating Bayern and Dortmund going into the final matchday, the Bavarians were in no mood for any mishaps considering they had squandered a chance to wrap up the title last week when they drew at Leipzig.
In a dominant first half they went ahead through Kingsley Coman after four minutes and missed a bagful of chances to score again.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery kisses the trophy as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Michael Dalder DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
Frankfurt briefly levelled when Sebastien Haller stabbed in on the rebound in the 50th but their hopes of a top-four finish lasted only minutes with David Alaba and Renato Sanches netting for the hosts in the 53rd and 58th.
Ribery, who joined back in 2007, and Robben, who arrived two years later, came on as substitutes and scored Bayern's fourth and fifth goals for a perfect farewell.
Ribery overtook Bayern greats Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Oliver Kahn and Mehmet Scholl, among others, who have eight league crowns to their names.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Rafinha lift the trophy as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Michael Dalder DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
Bayern's Robert Lewandowski was crowned the league's top scorer for the fourth time with 22 goals.
Dortmund finished on 76 points after beating Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0. RB Leipzig, third, and fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen will join them in next season's Champions League.
Gladbach, VfL Wolfsburg and Frankfurt will compete in the Europa League.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Rafinha is thrown in the air by team mates as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Michael Dalder DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Clare Fallon and Ed Osmond)
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's David Alaba celebrates winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Michael Dalder DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Rafinha, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery lift the trophy as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer lifts the trophy as he celebrates winning the Bundesliga with Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and team mates REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben pours beer on Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben pours beer on Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery lifts the trophy as they celebrate winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Alphonso Davies and Kingsley Coman REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery poses form a photo with Martin Demichelis and Ze Roberto as he celebrates winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates with a Bundesliga top goalscorer award REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery celebrates scoring their fourth goal with team mates REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac celebrates winning the Bundesliga REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Joshua Kimmich REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Mats Hummels and David Alaba REUTERS/Andreas Gebert DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben scores their fifth goal REUTERS/Michael Dalder DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-videoSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben in action with Eintracht Frankfurt's Makoto Hasebe REUTERS/Michael Dalder DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video
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