Bayer Leverkusen edged past Augsburg 2-1 to become the first team in the history of the Bundesliga to complete a full season without a loss.
Xabi Alonso’s treble-chasing side also stretched their European record unbeaten run across all competitions this season to 51 matches in a perfect dress rehearsal for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Atalanta.
Leverkusen got off to a strong start with Victor Boniface intercepting a ball from Augsburg goalkeeper Tomas Koubek to tap in for the lead in the 12th minute. Robert Andrich doubled the advantage from close range in the 27th but Augsburg came out fighting after the break and cut the deficit through Mert Kömür just past the hour.
Both teams had their share of chances but it was always going to be Leverkusen’s day, with fans hoping their first ever Bundesliga title will be the first of three trophies with a German Cup final against Kaiserslautern next weekend.
Leverkusen finished on 90 points with 28 wins and six draws, 17 points ahead of second-placed Stuttgart, who were 4-0 winners over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Bayern Munich squandered a two-goal lead to slump to a 4-2 loss at Hoffenheim, courtesy of an Andrej Kramaric hat-trick, to end a disappointing season in third place as coach Thomas Tuchel bowed out.
Early goals from Mathys Tel and Alphonso Davies put the injury-depleted Bavarians – missing Harry Kane as well as Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané – 2-0 up after six minutes.
Hoffenheim pulled a goal back through Maximilian Beier two minutes later before Kramaric delivered a stunning 19-minute hat-trick.
At the other end of the table Cologne were relegated, joining Darmstadt, following a 4-1 defeat at Heidenheim. Bochum will go into a relegation playoff.
This story will be updated
Source: theguardian.com
