BERLIN (AP) ― Bayern Munich capped one of the best seasons in German soccer history ― almost two months before the final games.
Bayern clinched its record 24th German title with seven games to spare by winning 3-1 at Hertha Berlin.
Toni Kroos scored in the sixth minute, Mario Goetze in the 14th and Franck Ribery in the 79th as Bayern won its second straight championship and extended its record league unbeaten streak to 52 games since Oct. 28, 2012. Bayern (25-0-2) broke the record for the earliest clinch, set last year when it wrapped up the title with six games remaining, and stretched its league winning streak to 19 matches since a 1-1 tie at Bayer Leverkusen on Oct. 5.
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Bayern players celebrate after winning the Bundesliga on Tuesday. ( AP-Yonhap) |
Bayern also won the Champions League and German Cup last year under coach Jupp Heynckes and has reached the Champions League quarterfinals and German Cup semifinals under his successor, Pep Guardiola.
“We worked very hard for this title. When you win by 25 points people can think it’s easy. But it’s not easy, especially after the last season with three titles,” Guardiola said. “When you win 19 games one after the other, it speaks for the mentality of the team.”
Celebrations were reserved, perhaps an indicator of how predictable the title race had become. Players donned T-shirts with the No. 24 on their backs, while Guardiola remained on the bench speaking on his mobile phone.
“We’re all very surprised as we expected it in February,” Schalke general manager Horst Heldt joked. “But seriously, it was a magnificent season from Bayern.”
England
Manchester City’s title run gained momentum with a 3-0 win at rival Manchester United on Tuesday night, and Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League dimmed with a 2-2 tie against Swansea.
Edin Dzeko scored inside 43 seconds, added a goal in the 56th minute and Yayo Toure scored in the 90th at Old Trafford as City (21-5-3) closed within three points of first-place Chelsea (21-4-6), which has played two more games.
Defending champion United (15-10-6) is seventh, 12 points back of fourth-place Arsenal (19-6-6) for England’s final Champions League berth. With eight games left, United is assured of its fewest points since the Premier League era began in 1992-93.
“I thought it would be a tough year for us, no doubt about that,” said manager David Moyes, who took over when Alex Ferguson retired at the end of last season, “but I hoped it would be much more competitive and closer to the top of the league than we are at the present time.”
Arsenal wasted a late lead against visiting Swansea, giving up a 90th-minute own goal in a 2-2 draw when Per Mertesacker’s clearance richocheted off goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Mathieu Flamini and went into the net.
Wilfred Bony put Swansea ahead in the 11th minute, but Lukas Podolski tied the score in the 73rd and Olivier Giroud put the Gunners ahead 70 seconds later.
Italy
Alessandro Florenzi scored in second-half stoppage time to keep Roma’s faint Serie A title hopes alive with a 2-1 win over visiting Torino.
Second-place Roma (20-7-2) closed within 11 points of two-time defending champion Juventus (25-1-3), which hosts Parma on Wednesday.
