Guardiola signs off at Bayern with German league title

BERLIN: Pep Guardiola signed off his three years in the Bundesliga with a ‘beer shower’ on Saturday as Bayern Munich lifted a fourth straight German league title after Saturday’s 3-1 win over bottom-side Hanover.

Bayern’s 28th win in 34 league games triggered party scenes at the Allianz Arena as the Bavarians celebrated their 26th German league title.

This was Guardiola’s 20th trophy as a coach after 14 in four years with Barcelona and now six in three years in Munich before leaving to coach Manchester City next season.

It was only a matter of minutes after the final whistle before he was soaked in beer as his players emptied over-sized glasses over the Spaniard in the traditional title celebrations.

“It’s cold, it stinks, but it was nice,” was Guardiola’s verdict following his ‘beer shower’ after Manuel Neuer, David Alaba and Douglas Costa all emptied their 3-litre glasses of beer over their coach.

“Of course, it’s been a great day,” added Guardiola.

“Normally games like this are unpleasant and boring, because the concentration is lacking a bit, but that was a great game with lots of intensity.

“Now we’ll celebrate for a day before getting ready to play Borussia Dortmund next Saturday.”

Guardiola’s final game as Bayern coach is next Saturday’s German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund in Berlin where his side could send him off with the domestic double.

– Standing ovation –

The Spaniard received a standing ovation after a presentation from the 75,000 sold-out crowd at the Allianz Arena as Bayern became the first club to win the German league four times in a row.

Poland hot-shot Robert Lewandowski finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer after claiming his 30th league goal of the season.

No other foreign striker has ever scored so many goals in a single Bundesliga season.

Mario Goetze then netted twice in what could be his last Bundesliga game for Bayern.

According to reports, the German World Cup winner has been told to find a new club by Bayern’s in-coming coach Carlo Ancelotti, who will replace Guardiola next season.

Lewandowski opened the scoring on seven minutes before Goetze doubled the hosts’ lead on 28 minutes when he beat the Hanover defence, then chipped home to get the party started.

He claimed his second after the break after Hanover made a hash of defending a corner.

Hanover, playing their last game before relegation, pulled a goal back when Poland international Artur Sobiech got in behind the Bayern defence on 66 minutes.

Bayern finish 10 points clear after second-placed Dortmund drew 2-2 at home to Cologne, with Germany winger Marco Reus equalising for the hosts.