体坛英语新闻：25th German title for Bayern Munich without celebration

BERLIN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- It might sound weird, but to win the German title is something which is self-evident for a club like Bayern Munich. At the same time, not to win it is regarded as something near a catastrophe.

Now, one day after the 1-0 win in the Bundesliga over Hertha BSC and Bastian Schweinsteiger' s goal last Saturday, it is done as early as Bundesliga match day 30th. Bayern has won the German "Meisterschaft" for the 25th time (1932 for the first time), which is an impressive figure.

Bayern secured the trophy four match days before the 2014/2015 season ends as second-placed VfL Wolfsburg can't overtake Bayern anymore after a 0-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

But for now there won't be any celebrations on the balcony of the townhall at the "Marienplatz" in Munich's city center where Bayern traditionally celebrates important titles with thousands of fans and a nationwide TV broadcast.

To be the best in Germany in 2015 is no reason for Bayern's stars, their renowned coach Pep Guardiola and officials like CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to party. There is one special thing that stands above all -- the Champions League (final played on June 6th in Berlin).

For the German Cup final on May 30th in Berlin Olympic stadium, Bayern have another heavyweight competition that helps to secure the exceptional national position. To win the Champions League would be the shining star and the thing that decides the question: Was it a good season or not, and how successful is Pep Guardiola as Bayern coach? The German title is just one stage of a long journey.

Despite the 25th title, both semifinals -- one in the German Cup against 2013 Champions League final opponents Borussia Dortmund next Tuesday and the other, more important, in Champions League against the Spanish giants FC Barcelona on May 6th and 12th -- is what counts.

No doubt, the German title is what all regard as the most "honest" one as it is decided after a long season of 34 games. But meanwhile, it is a must-do for the Bavarians like brushing teeth in the morning.

"It is a little bit odd, because you fight the whole year like a lion to win the Meisterschaft, but it gets in the background at present," Bayern's striker Thomas Mueller said.

Coach Guardiola said he is happy but won't celebrate with Spanish wine now. "No wine. There are important games ahead of us, first the semifinal in the German Cup against Borussia Dortmund and then the semifinal of the Champions League against Barcelona," said the 44-year-old, who won the German title and the German Cup but lost Champions League's semifinal against Real Madrid last season.

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said: "It is hard to celebrate on the couch, having won the German title. It is great to win it while you are out on the pitch."

Rummenigge only drank "a small glass of red wine" to celebrate. And Bayern legend Franz Beckenbauer said: "the 25th title is something special, it is like being married for such a long time for an old couple, something very special. This season the team has played an outstanding first leg after an energy-taking World Cup and deserved the title. But as we all know we go for more."

Over the last decade, there have always been new competitors like Borussia Moenchengladbach, Werder Bremen or Borussia Dortmund that every now and then won the title and gave Bayern a bad time, but none of these clubs managed to chase Bayern Munich like an always following shadow over a longer period of time.