Champions League winners Bayern Munich returned to Bavaria on Monday after clinching the side’s second treble but celebrations will be without their fans due to the coronavirus pandemic, report agencies.
Midfielder Thiago Alcantara was the first off the plane, Manuel Neuer carried the trophy as Robert Lewandowski wore sunglasses, all wearing t-shirts adorned with “Triple 2020” in bright sunshine.
The players and coaching staff wore club masks while David Alaba held the match ball from the 1-0 win over French champions Paris Saint-Germain as state premier Markus Soeder welcomed squad home.
In the absence of jubilant crowds, Bavarian state governor Markus Sder greeted coach Hansi Flick and his team on the tarmac after they got off their aircraft, and touched arms with the players to maintain hygiene standards.
Sder is an ardent Bayern fan and said: "This is one of the most impressive Bayern teams that we've ever seen. The whole of Bavaria is proud."
Coach Hansi Flick said had been no curfew the previous evening as the team celebrated at their hotel after lifting the European Cup for a sixth time. In the past, Bayern celebrated by showing the trophy to fans from a balcony at Munich city hall. This time there will be a private event at the Allianz Arena.
Players will have a two-week holiday after the festivities before they start the new campaign by travelling to fifth-tier amateur outfit Dueren to begin their defence of the German Cup.
Bayern had already won a German league and cup double, so winning Europe's premier competition ensured just a second treble previously achieving the feat under Jupp Heynckes in 2013. It was Bayern's sixth European Cup after titles in 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001 and 2013.
The team has just under three weeks to recover before the new season begins with a German Cup first-round game against fifth-tier side FC Dren on September 11, with their Bundesliga campaign kicking off on September 18 with a home game against Schalke.
