Bayern Munich retained their Bundesliga crown on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win over FC Ingolstadt 04.
It wasn't as easy as the champions may have expected though, especially not after they went 2-0 up inside 22 minutes. A Robert Lewandowski penalty broke the deadlock on 15 minutes, and the Pole bagged his brace seven minutes later after a lovely assist from Xabi Alonso.
However, the latter would give Ingolstadt a way back into the game shortly after seemingly putting it out of their reach. The midfielder got the wrong side of Dario Lezcano in the area and brought him down, giving Moritz Hartmann the chance to pull one back from spot - and he did exactly that.
The hosts deserved the goal, having reacted well to going two down, and they created a few half chances in the second period as they searched for an equaliser.
However, in a very even 45 minutes, no one could add to the scoreline
Lewandowski puts Bayern on their way
As anticipated, champions-elect Bayern dominated their crowning moment clash from start to finish. David Alaba came close to breaking the deadlock with an early free-kick, but the travelling fans didn't have to wait long regardless as Lewandowski did it from the spot on 15 minutes.
A flowing counter attack saw Douglas Costa slip in Franck Ribéry, who was brought down in the area by Marvin Matip as he rounded goalkeeper Ramazan Özcan to shoot. It was a dubious call, with the Frenchman certainly not doing much to stay on his feet to say the least, but Lewandowski made the most of the opportunity with a cool finish.
Costa couldn't replicate this calmness on 22 minutes, however, as he beat the offside trap to race clean through on goal. A skilful stepover saw him get around Özcan, but Benjamin Hübner's determination to get back was rewarded as he nipped in at the last second to get a toe to the ball before the winger could finish.
This missed opportunity was almost punished by Ingolstadt moments later, with Manuel Neuer's poor clearance coming back at him through Matthew Leckie, who got the better of Javi Martinez but saw his mishit shot hit the sidenetting, not the back of the net.
Instead though, Bayern would get their two goal lead as Alonso produced a world-class through ball for Lewandowski to race on to and finish. It looked like the Poland international had gone too wide with the ball at first, but he showed his quality to bag his brace from a tight angle and put Bayern on the verge of lifting the Bundesliga title once more.
Ingolstadt unwilling to roll over
The hosts continued to pose problems nonetheless, with them not willing to roll over even at 2-0. Leckie was the recipient of another super chance but was this time thwarted by Neuer, while Lezcano wasn't far away with a header shortly after.
Ingolstadt finally got the reward their efforts deserved though when Hartmann pulled one back from the spot just before half time - moments after Lewandowski had seen a goal-bound effort blocked and a first half hat-trick denied. Alonso got the wrong side of Lezcano and, when the two players' legs' tangled, the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
Hartmann stepped up and arrowed his spot-kick in the bottom left hand corner - not that the accuracy was required anyway after he sent Neuer the wrong way. He tested the stopper moments after scoring too as the home side pursued an equaliser, but his 20-yard effort was tame and easy to hold, with Bayern able to head in at the break still in the lead.
Champions once again
Ingolstadt's goal acted almost like a wake-up call for the visitors, who came out for the second half eager to put the game, and the title race, to bed.
David Alaba flashed a half volley just wide after the ball fell for him from a corner, while Costa also came close with an impressive strike. A big chance then came for Thomas Müller just past the hour, but he was thwarted by a great save from Özcan.
The home side, meanwhile, could have nicked themselves a point as we entered the closing stages of the game. Hartmann, who had been a constant threat, broke through the visitors' defence with surprising ease but, despite beating Neuer with his low effort, he also beat the post and saw the ball roll wide for a goal kick.
Markus Suttner wasn't far away from a splendid equaliser moments later either, the ball falling to him from a corner but his attempt from the edge of the area just clearing the crossbar.
However, Bayern saw the game out, even if it was in a nervy fashion, to claim their Bundesliga title once more.