FC Ingolstadt 04 1 - 2 Bayern Munich: Bayern Munich clinch title with win at Ingolstadt

Posted Sunday, May 08, 2016 by PA

Bayern Munich clinched their 25th Bundesliga title with a game of the season to spare thanks to a 2-1 win at Ingolstadt.

Robert Lewandowski's 28th and 29th goals of the season, the first coming from the penalty spot, put one hand on a fourth straight league title for the Bavarians.

Moritz Hartmann made them wait to make sure as he pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, but there was to be no fairy-tale recovery for the smaller of the two Bavarian clubs as their illustrious neighbours took the points and the title.

Ingolstadt, with their place in the Bundesliga next season already secure, were clearly out to enjoy the occasion in a game their coach Ralph Hasenhuttl had branded the "highlight of the season".

They chased, harried and hassled the Bayern defenders from the start, forcing Bayern goalkeeper Neuer to have more touches of the ball than he is accustomed to.

The first shot on goal came at the other end, though, with David Alaba's free-kick just clearing the crossbar.

A mistake in midfield allowed Douglas Costa to skip past two Ingolstadt players and put Franck Ribery through on goal, and he went to ground inside the penalty area as he tried to touch the ball past Marvin Matip.

A penalty was awarded and Lewandowski stroked it in for his 28th goal of the season, thanking regular penalty-taker Thomas Muller for allowing him to improve his chances of winning the top-scorer's award this season.

Costa could and perhaps should have doubled Bayern's lead midway through the first half when he beat the offside trap and was left with only Ramazan Ozcan to beat, but having rounded the last line of the Ingolstadt defence, he lost his balance slightly and placed his shot wide as he fell to the ground.

A weak Mathew Leckie shot was no problem for Neuer, who made amends for his mistake in giving away possession, before Hartmann placed his shot wide with only the Bayern and Germany number one to beat.

Lewandowski then strengthened Bayern's grip on the title and his own on the top-scorer's award, turning Xabi Alonso's through-ball into the far corner of Ozcan's goal.

Leckie nearly pulled a goal back immediately with Neuer brave and alert near his right-hand post to deny the Australian, before Lewandowski became the third Bayern player to fail in a one-on-one with Ozcan, taking the ball a little wide after skipping past the goalkeeper and seeing the chance go to waste.

Ingolstadt were given a penalty of their own five minutes before the break when Alonso fouled Hartmann, who picked himself up to fire past Neuer and convert his seventh penalty of the season, his 11th goal of the campaign.

David Alaba and Costa both flashed shots wide of the right-hand post before Muller failed to beat Ozcan in another one-on-one situation.

Back at the other end, Hartmann's shot went just inches wide of the post as Ingolstadt came close to levelling on the counter-attack.

Lukas Hinterseer sent another shot wide but Pep Guardiola's men held on for all three points which earned them their 25th Bundesliga title, including a hat-trick under the Spanish coach, and 26th German league title in total.