Bayern Munich start title celebrations after Thomas Mueller hat-trick

Bayern Munich effectively won the Bundesliga title on Saturday when a Thomas Mueller hat-trick gave them a 3-1 win over VfL Bochum while rivals Schalke 04 lost 2-0 at home to Werder Bremen.

The win took treble-chasing Bayern three points clear of Schalke with a one game left and a goal difference better than their rivals by 17, making it all but impossible for them to be caught.  

Louis van Gaal's Bayern play Inter Milan in the final of the Champions League and have also reached the German Cup final.                                           

Mueller chested the ball home in the 18th minute and headed his second two minutes later. He added the third midway through the second half before the visitors pulled one back.

Mesut Ozil and Hugo Almeida scored second-half goals in Gelsenkirchen to leave Schalke 04 contemplating a second-place finish.