Bayern celebrate 19th German title

"We've played brilliantly all season and proved we're the best team in the league," said Michael Ballack [Images], captaining the side in the absence of injured goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

"It's just a shame that Olli is not here with us, but there'll be more time to celebrate later."

Bayern needed to beat Kaiserslautern and hope for Schalke to drop points at home to Bayer Leverkusen to be certain of their fifth title in seven years.

They resolved their side of the equation easily, as Ballack's drilled early goal was followed by three classy strikes from Dutch international Makaay.

Bayern huddled on the pitch at the Fritz-Walter stadium to wait for Schalke's 3-3 draw to be confirmed before starting their celebrations.

From nowhere, huge two-litre glasses were produced and the Bayern players spent the next hour alternately gulping down Bavarian wheat beer and pouring it over themselves, coach Felix Magath and even the presenter of the TV coverage.

The league title comes in Magath's first season in charge at Bayern and represents his first major honour as a coach.

"It is an enormous joy for me to win the title with Bayern," said Magath, who replaced Ottmar Hitzfeld after they finished last season without a trophy.

"It's a relief, of course, to win my first title. We were always aware of what was going on at Schalke and it was great to finally find out that they couldn't catch us."

Bayern can make it a domestic double if they beat Schalke in the Cup final on May 28 in Berlin and Magath is eagerly anticipating further success.

"This is only the beginning," he said. "I want a lot more titles over the next 10 years."

Bixente Lizarazu, who rejoined Bayern during the mid-season break after a short spell at Olympique Marseille, could hardly believe his good fortune at returning to the new league champions.

"This is the most beautiful season of all my time at Bayern," said the French fullback, who won four league titles with Bayern during his first spell from 1997 to 2004.

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