Bayern's success story goes on at plush new home

FRANKFURT, May 6 (Reuters) Bayern Munich's new era at the Allianz Arena looks like being just as successful as their 33-year stint at the Olympiastadion, even if they are set to lose Michael Ballack.

The Bavarians clinched a second successive league double when they drew 1-1 at Kaiserslautern and Hamburg SV were beaten 4-2 at Hertha Berlin today.

By their own high standards the performances have generally been disappointing this season but the club's legendary ability to get good results even when playing poorly took them to a 20th German league title with plenty to spare.

Bayern's 2004-05 championship, in Felix Magath's debut season in charge, was secured by a nine-match winning run at the end of the season.

They celebrated with a move into a new 300 million euro (380.5 million dollars), 70,000 capacity stadium on the outskirts of Munich and the futuristic surroundings seemed to have a mesmerising effect on most of their rivals.

Magath's men started with six successive league victories before their bubble of invincibility was pricked by Hamburg SV in a 2-0 away defeat on September 24.

It looked like the beginning of a concerted title challenge by a Hamburg side inspired by the gloriously talented Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart.

But while Hamburg and free-scoring Werder Bremen stayed close to Bayern for a couple of weeks, the Bavarians always kept their noses in front.

OCCASIONAL BRILLIANCE Roy Makaay top scored with 16 goals while Ballack weighed in with 13, most of which were decisive.

They maintained a 100 per cent record at the Allianz Arena until they faced Hamburg again on March 4, this time losing 2-1.

But even after the defeat they were eight points clear and they maintained a comfortable cushion all the way through the run-in.

They had the satisfaction of knocking Hamburg out of the Cup at the quarter-final stage and went on to lift the trophy for the 13th time with victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on April 29.

In their 33 years at the other Olympic Stadium, Bayern won 17 league titles, four European Cups and many other honours as they rose to become one of Europe's powerhouse clubs.

A heavy defeat by AC Milan in the Champions League showed they have a long way to go before they can challenge for a fifth European crowd, especially as Ballack is poised to announced a move abroad.

The Germany captain will be a tough man to replace but the club's huge financial resources mean they can take their pick of any midfielder in Germany.

Put simply, no one in the Bundesliga has the resources on the field or in the bank to challenge them. Their domestic dominance looks assured for years to come.

REUTERS PM KN2138