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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

#Bayern Munich ist Deutschemeisters!


It was really a question of not if, but when.

As it was, 25 March 2014 will be remembered as the day Bayern Munich clinched their record 24th Bundesliga title - and aptly, it was done in record time, title wrapped up with 7 games to spare and 6 days before the end of March.

In what is set to be a record-breaking season for the Bavarian powerhouse - they could become the first side ever to win the treble of league, cup and Champions League in 2 consecutive seasons - it was quite fitting that they were to finish the business in the city that epitomises everything German right now.

Berlin may be a relative football backwater with its most successful club, Hertha, only just returning to the top flight at the start of the season, and a dearth of titles compared to the old West Germany, but Berlin is still essentially the capital city of Germany, and certainly capital city of the new Germany which is still 24 years old at heart - just like its footballers then.



The Olympiastadion in Berlin was a fitting place for Bayern Munich to be crowned champions of Germany having witnessed many memorable sporting moments for the country in its 80 year history, and as Hitler's Nazi Germany tried to at the 1936 Olympics, Bayern Munich dominated proceedings racing to a 2-0 lead early in the first half.

The result finished 3-1 to Bayern which was really all enough for Pep Guardiola's men who can now look forward to facing a weakened Manchester United for a place in the semifinals - another 5 games to a place in the Final in Lisbon and confirmation as the best ever club side in history.

As I've mentioned in previous blog articles, that title is pretty much Bayern's to lose and it is frightening to think that this is only season 1 of the Guardiola revolution in Bavaria. Robert Lewandowski of course is set to join the club in the summer from title rivals, Borussia Dortmund.

Has Bayern's success dulled German football which had been enjoying quite a competitive era with the likes of Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg, VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund all winning the title in the last 10 seasons? Perhaps, especially when you consider that it seems that no other club in Germany has the financial power of the Bavarians - although question marks must linger over the transparency of the club's finances what with president Uli Hoeness charged with corruption and sentenced to jail in the last month or so.

Mind you, everyone hates a winner who wins all the time and Bayern Munich have always had that tag in this country where equality is now prized deeply. Bayern's FC Hollywood reputation may have its own fans but in the likes of the Ruhr Valley and the industrial north, a Bayern loss remains a day of celebration.

But for now, Bayern deserve all the plaudits they can get for a title win well deserved. 

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