BERLIN: Bayern Munich were confirmed as German champions for the 25th time on Sunday as VfL Wolfsburg’s 1-0 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach meant Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians can no longer be caught.

Gladbach’s Germany striker Max Kruse sent the title to Munich as his 90th-minute winning goal at Borussia Park saw Bayern finish the weekend with 76 points from 30 games and an unassailable 15 point-lead with four games left.

Bayern had picked up their 24th victory in 30 league games on Saturday when Bastian Schweinsteiger’s late goal sealed a 1-0 home win over Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena.

The Bavarian giants have now won three consecutive German league titles with Guardiola winning the Bundesliga title in each of his two seasons in charge.

The Spaniard has won a total of 19 titles as a coach, after lifting 14 trophies during four years as Barcelona boss, and has already claimed five more since joining Bayern in July 2013.

There is no time for Bayern to rest on their laurels, however, as they face a busy few weeks and are still in the running to repeat their 2013 treble of European, league and cup titles.

They host arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in the German Cup last four clash for a place in the final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on May 30.

With the league secure, Guardiola’s Bayern face a mouth-watering Champions League semi-final, first-leg at his ex-club Barcelona on May 6, with the return leg six days later.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2015

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