Bayern closing in on German title

Bayern players celebrate after the final whistle

Bayern Munich all but wrapped up the Bundesliga title after a 3-1 home win over Vfl Bochum on Saturday.

Treble-chasing Bayern are three points clear at the table's summit and have scored 17 more goals than second-placed Schalke, who lost 2-0 to Werder Bremen.

Bayern play Hertha Berlin in their last league game on 8 May when their 22nd Bundesliga title will be confirmed.

The Bavarians then face Bremen in the German Cup final before meeting Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Schalke coach Felix Magath had boldly predicted that Bayern would falter but a hat-trick from 20-year-old utility player Thomas Mueller saw off relegation-threatened Bochum, who had fired coach Heiko Herrlich only 48 hours before kick-off.

In Gelsenkirchen, second-half goals from Mesut Ozil and Hugo Almeida left Magath's team contemplating their fourth second-place finish since 2001 as a 69,000 sell-out crowd at the Bavarian capital's Allianz Arena began their title celebrations.

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"It's a fantastic feeling. We've achieved what we've worked for all season," Mueller said. "My first season and my first championship - it's as good as it gets. We've gotten what we wanted the most and now we can go after more."

Not many could have foreseen Bayern's treble-quest when a poor start to the season meant manager Louis van Gaal was in danger of losing his job in his first term in charge.

But the Dutchman, who has already won league titles with three clubs - Ajax, AZ Alkmaar and Barcelona - in two countries, has masterminded a remarkable change in fortunes.

Tuesday's 3-0 victory, 4-0 on aggregate, over Lyon saw Bayern book their place in the Champions League decider on 22 May on home soil in Hamburg, and van Gaal believes domestic success will aid his side's bid for European glory.

"It gives my players a lot of confidence and now we have two weeks to prepare, and we can do even better," the 58-year-old said.

"This means a lot to me. I don't think there are many coaches in Europe who have won championship titles in three countries," he added.

Bottom club Hertha Berlin, meanwhile, were relegated after a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen left them four points adrift of safety.

Two teams from Bochum, FC Nurnberg - both with 28 points - and Hannover 96 - on 30 points - will join Hertha in the second tier after next week's final round of games.

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