Winning the German title is nothing new to Bayern Munich but their 16th crown was more than just another piece of silverware to add to their rich collection.
"I can't believe it, I need a few beers to realise we've done it," Bayern midfielder Thomas Strunz said after a dramatic scenario saw the Bavarians edge out Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference.
Leverkusen looked all set to land the first league title in their 96-year history. Coach Christoph Daum's men, entering Saturday's final programme three points ahead of their arch-rivals, needed only a draw at unglamorous SpVgg Unterhaching.
All Bayern could do was to make certain they beat Werder Bremen in front of their own fans and hope Leverkusen faltered.
In the end that was exactly what happened. They won 3-1 while nearby, Unterhaching defeated Leverkusen 2-0.
When the season started, Franz Beckenbauer, the Bayern president hoped they would lift another trophy, one they have been chasing since the last of three consecutive triumphs in 1976, the European Cup.
That dream vanished with a 3-2 loss on aggregate to Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final earlier this month.
But no one was complaining on Saturday after Bayern, who had already won the German Cup with a 3-0 victory over Werder retained their Bundesliga title against all odds.
Bayern did what they had to, opening up a 3-0 lead after just 16 minutes with two headed goals from towering striker Carsten Jancker followed by a clever backheel flip from Paulo Sergio.
Werder later reduced the arrears through Marco Bode but there was no way they were going to deny the home side victory.
What really sealed the race happened in Unterhaching, where international midfielder Michael Ballack put the home side in the lead with a clumsy own goal in the 20th minute. Markus Oberleitner completed Unterhaching's shock victory in the 72nd minute.
Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz prepares for a final throw on the roulette wheel in Paris on Wednesday in the knowledge that the small matter of $29 million rides on his team's all Spanish Champions League final with Valencia.
Real's 1-0 defeat by Valladolid on the last day of the Primera Liga season means that only victory in Paris will earn them a place in next year's Champions League - and the money that comes with it.
The same is true for the players who will earn $350,000 apiece if they prevail in the Stade de France but will only get a quarter of that figure if they lose. "It is better to keep calm and say nothing to the players, who are already under enough pressure," said Sanz.
Italy's Roma and Benfica, of Portugal, played a to a 1-1 draw in a not-so-friendly game at the Giants Stadium on Saturday.
Roma defender Alessandro Rinaldi was shown the red card after 78th minutes and eight others were booked as the both teams played aggressively before a crowd of 29,521. Roma scored first through forward Vicenzo Montella at the 20-minute mark, when he headed past goalkeeper Francesco Antoniolli from close range.
Six minutes later Benefica levelled when midfielder Uribe converted a penalty.
