The 0-0 draw at Wolfsburg which handed Bayern their 21st league crown came just three days after they were dumped out of the UEFA Cup courtesy of a 4-0 hammering by Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.

"After the disappointment of Thursday in the UEFA Cup, we can celebrate in style and I am going to enjoy it," said striker Luca Toni, winning only the third trophy of his career after the World Cup with Italy and the DFB-Pokal a fortnight ago.

"I am delighted that we are German champions."

Although Bayern will not officially receive the silverware until after their final game of the season against Hertha Berlin, the celebrations will begin in earnest on Sunday night when the team return to Munich.

"It has been a fantastic season," said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after Sunday's game. "The team has achieved something extraordinary and we will really let ourselves go."

General manager Uli Hoeness predicted before the season that the rest of the Bundesliga would "need a telescope" to keep an eye on Bayern.

And although that did not seem the case at Christmas, when they shared the Bundesliga lead with Werder Bremen, their form in 2008 has justified Hoeness' belief in his team.

"I think in the end we deserved to win the league," he said.

"It shows class when you win it with three games of the season remaining."

Indeed, Bayern have led the way from day one, when they beat Hansa Rostock 3-0 with an expensively-assembled squad.

And club president Franz Beckenbauer said: "A lot of money was invested, but the new signings paid off.

"It was a very, very good season to lead from the very beginning and I think they deserved it."