David Awopetu
Robert Lewandowski passed 50 goals for the season as Bayern Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen to win a record 20th German Cup and 13th domestic double.
Leverkusen were on the hunt for their first title in 27 years — their last win was the German Cup in 1993 — and were hopeful 21-year-old Kai Havertz would be the key to that.
Despite pulling one back in the second half, a devastating 10 minutes in the first-half sunk Leverkusen’s hopes of derailing Bayern’s dominance in Germany.
David Alaba’s free-kick put them ahead and Serge Gnabry added a second, before Lewandowski’s long-range shot was fumbled in by Lukas Hradecky.
Sven Bender’s header gave Leverkusen hope but Lewandowski’s delicate dink put the result beyond doubt.
Kai Havertz scored a penalty with the last kick for Leverkusen.
Bayern Munich have set a new club record of 26 games unbeaten, only drawing once in that run since December.
Their run of 17 straight wins is also a Bayern record.
They were deserved winners at the empty Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Leverkusen had them on the ropes for about 20 minutes after making it 3-1, but Bayern saw it out.
Lewandowski’s two goals – which took the Poland international to 51 in 44 games this season for Bayern – were both brilliant.
For the first, he controlled a long ball from goal keeper Manuel Neuer before shooting from at least 30 yards, with the goalkeeper spilling his shot over the line.
His second, which ended Leverkusen’s hopes, was a wonderful chip over Hradecky.
Leverkusen’s reputation as Germany’s nearly men continues. They have lost a Champions League final, three German Cup finals and finished Bundesliga runners-up five times since winning their only two major trophies – the Uefa Cup in 1988 and the German Cup in 1993.
