Bayern Munich wins Bundesliga title

Nesha Starcevic

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

HAMBURG, Germany - Bayern Munich completed an improbable double and won the Bundesliga title Saturday when it beat Werder Bremen 3-1 and Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-0 at Unterhaching.

Leverkusen went into the final round with a three-point lead and needed only a draw in Unterhaching to clinch its first title. But it allowed an early own goal and gave up another goal in the second half, then wasted several great opportunities and ended up empty-handed.

Not far away, in Munich's sold-out Olympic Stadium, Bayern romped over Bremen on two early goals by striker Carsten Jancker to celebrate its 16th Bundesliga title, a record.

Bayern also won the German Cup two weeks ago, but was knocked out of the Champions League semifinals by Real Madrid.

"We played a great season and attractive soccer," Leverkusen coach Christoph Daum said. "Today, we didn't use our best opportunities. We are deeply sad, it's a huge disappointment."

Both teams finished with 73 points, but Bayern retained the title on better goal differential.

"I feel sorry for Daum. All my compliments to Unterhaching," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. "Leverkusen would have deserved it, too. It was one of the toughest title fights Bayern has had."