RB Leipzig's defeat at Borussia Dortmund handed Bayern Munich the Bundesliga for ninth season in a row; Bayern celebrated with a 6-0 demolition of Borussia Monchengladbach and a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski
Saturday 8 May 2021 19:54, UK
Bayern Munich celebrated their record-extending ninth consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday with a 6-0 demolition of Borussia Monchengladbach and a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski, who edged closer to a 49-year-old scoring record.
Lewandowski, who now has 39 goals, one shy of Gerd Muller's record of 40 league goals in one Bundesliga season dating back to 1971/72, needed only two minutes to open his account with a shot from a tight angle.
Thomas Muller, who along with David Alaba becomes the first player in Bundesliga history to win 10 league titles, stabbed in their second in the 23rd before a sensational flying Lewandowski volley 11 minutes later.
With Gladbach in the role of mere observers, Lewandowski then set up Kingsley Coman, who wrapped up a quick break with a powerful shot a minute from half-time.
Lewandowski sent 'keeper Yann Sommer the wrong way to convert a 66th-minute penalty for his hat-trick and a clear shot at Mueller's record with two games left.
Tanguy Nianzou was sent off in the 75th with a straight red card for a rustic challenge five minutes after coming on, but even with 10 men, Bayern scored again, with Leroy Sane slotting in four minutes from the end.
Bayern, who have now won 30 Bundesliga titles since the introduction of the top division in 1963, and 31 German league crowns in total.
Bayern may have enjoyed less success this season than their astonishing six-trophy run in 2019/20, but they have remained the most consistent team in the league led by Lewandowski.
It is also the second consecutive league crown for coach Hansi Flick, who is leaving Bayern at the end of the season and will be replaced by Julian Nagelsmann.
Earlier on Saturday, Jadon Sancho struck twice as Borussia Dortmund's 3-2 win over RB Leipzig sealed a ninth Bundesliga title in a row for Bayern Munich.
Leipzig realistically had to win at Dortmund to keep their hopes of catching Bayern alive but were always on the back foot after Marco Reus' early strike for the hosts and Sancho's double leaves them seven points adrift with two games remaining.
Dortmund's win also moves them into fourth and the Champions League qualifying positions, although Eintracht Frankfurt are yet to play this weekend and are two points behind in fifth, ahead of their game with mid-table Mainz on Sunday.
A month out from the Euros, Sancho delivered a reminder to Gareth Southgate of why he can play a key role for England this summer.
The forward has been in impressive form in 2021 and cut in from the left flank before finishing into the far corner with his right foot to double Dortmund's advantage on 51 minutes.
Lukas Klostermann's header from a corner pulled one back for Leipzig on 63 minutes and they were level with 13 minutes to play when Hwang Hee-Chan cutback for Dani Olmo to slot in.
However, Sancho sealed it for his side on 87 minutes, back-heeling Raphael Guerreiro into the box before latching onto his cross at the back post.
Two goals from Alexis Sanchez helped Inter Milan celebrate their Serie A title success in style with a 5-1 thrashing of Sampdoria at the San Siro on Sunday.
Atalanta's failure to beat Sassuolo last Sunday ensured leaders Inter were crowned champions for the first time in 11 years, and in their first match since clinching the Scudetto, they showed no sign of letting up.
Roberto Gagliardini got the ball rolling in the fourth minute with the opening goal, before Sanchez netted his first of the game with a fine finish from the edge of the area after 26 minutes.
Keita Balde Diao got one back for Sampdoria in the 35th minute but, straight down the other end, Sanchez steered home a well-controlled volley to restore his side's two-goal advantage.
After the break, Inter continued to hunt for goals, with young Andrea Pinamonti scoring his first for the club just after the hour mark, before Lautaro Martinez emphatically converted a 70th-minute penalty to put the seal on the victory.
A third successive league win moves Inter on to 85 points, 15 clear of second-placed Atalanta, with three games still to play. Sampdoria stay ninth.
Lyon kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 4-1 home thrashing of relegation-battling Lorient in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Houssem Aouar, Lucas Paqueta and two from Bruno Guimaraes lifted OL up to third in the table on 73 points with two games remaining.
Monaco, who slip to fourth on 71, travel to mid-table Stade de Reims on Sunday for their game in hand. The top three in Ligue 1 qualify for the following season's Champions League.
Lorient, who scored a consolation goal through Thomas Monconduit, sit in 17th place on 38 points, one above Nantes, who occupy the relegation playoff spot.
Against a sturdy Lorient side, Aouar broke the deadlock on 52 minutes when he fired home from close range from Ryan Cherki's delightful chipped cross. Paqueta doubled the advantage 12 minutes later by heading home from Karl Toko-Ekambis cross.
Guimaraes put the result beyond doubt on 71 minutes when he converted a penalty after being fouled in the area by Fabien Lemoine.
The Brazilian midfielder added another from point-blank range before Monconduit found the back of the net with a crossed shot seven minutes from time.
