Dominant Bayern retain Bundesliga title after beating Stuttgart

Bayern Munich retained their Bundesliga title after a 4-2 win at home to VfB Stuttgart on Sunday as they ticked off the second leg of a possible sextuple.

Vincent Kompany's men wrapped up the championship with four games to spare having extended their lead over Borussia Dortmund to an unassailable 15 points. They have smashed the Bundesliga season goals record in the process, racking up 109 so far.

It is Bayern's 35th German title and 34th in the Bundesliga era. The success is a 13th in 14 seasons, with Bayer Leverkusen splitting their streak in 2024.

The Bavarians already won the Super Cup in August, also against Stuttgart, and have a German Cup semi-final at Leverkusen on Wednesday.

They are also through to the Champions League semi-finals where they meet holders Paris Saint-Germain. Lifting the trophy would open the door to the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA's Intercontinental Cup.

Belgian Kompany took over after the 2024 failure and has now seamlessly won two league titles despite fears among some fans about his lack of major managerial pedigree when appointed.

The goals of league top scorer Harry Kane have again been a big factor as well as the form of winger Michael Olise and a steadier defence.

Kane scores again off the bench

Such is Bayern's dominance in the Bundesliga, they could afford to initially rest Kane, assist king Olise and others ahead of big knock-out games ahead.

Playmaker Jamal Musiala was given a start against Stuttgart as he works his way back to full fitness and a Germany World Cup place following last July's leg break.

But the title party did not go to plan initially, with clashes between fans outside the stadium and then Germany World Cup hopeful Chris Führich netting the opener for the visitors on 21 minutes.

Dortmund had made an early championship success for Bayern possible by losing 2-1 at fifth-placed Hoffenheim on Saturday.

The Bavarians were not going to let the chance go begging and levelled through Raphaël Guerreiro on 31 minutes. Musiala wriggled through and squared for the Portuguese, who leaves Bayern in June.

It was 2-1 soon afterwards when Nicolas Jackson, filling in for Kane, swept home after a counter-attack.

Bayern were flying and left back Alphonso Davies, whose season has been blighted by injury, scored via a deflection before the break.

Fourth-placed Stuttgart are pushing for a Champions League spot but even a partly second-string Bayern side were too strong.

Kane and Olise came on for the second half to sample the title-winning atmosphere and Kane quickly scored on the rebound with his left foot for a 32nd league goal of the campaign. Chema
Andrés scored late on for the visitors.

The Meisterschale trophy is expected to be handed out after Bayern's final game of the Bundesliga season at home to Cologne on May 16.

Heidenheim on the brink

Two deflected goals in each half from Johan Manzambi and Maxi Eggestein earlier helped Freiburg end a special week on a high with a 2-1 home victory over bottom side Heidenheim.

Eggestein's winner on 83 minutes followed their cruise into the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday following a 6-1 aggregate thumping of Celta Vigo in the last eight.

If the Black Forest side fail to win the Europa League to gain a berth in next season's Champions League, Sunday's win boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Conference League through the Bundesliga's seventh place - depending on Cup results. They face Stuttgart in the German Cup semis on Thursday.

Substitute Budu Zivzivadze had bent in a superb equalizer for Heidenheim but a 19th defeat of the league season means their hopes of avoiding relegation are hanging by a thread.

With four games left, Heidenheim are seven points behind St Pauli, who fill the relegation play-off spot. They host the Hamburg-based club next Saturday.