Bayern wrap up German title in style

FC Bayern München confirmed their 22nd German title with a 3-1 win at Hertha BSC Berlin on the final day as Werder Bremen made sure of a UEFA Champions League qualifying place.

Bayern entered the last round of games three points ahead of FC Schalke 04 and their vastly superior goal difference meant the Gelsenkirchen club had little chance of taking their first modern Bundesliga crown. Ivica Olić (20) put Bayern ahead after being set up by Arjen Robben and although Adrián Ramos equalised just before the hour for Hertha – already relegated in bottom place – the Dutch winger secured victory with two goals in the last 16 minutes. Bayern now turn their attentions to the German Cup final with Bremen in Berlin next Saturday and the UEFA Champions League decider against FC Internazionale Milano in Madrid seven days later.

Schalke must make do with being runners-up for the third time in six seasons, five points adrift following a 0-0 draw at 1. FSV Mainz 05. They will join Bayern in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League group stage while Bremen will be in the play-offs after securing third spot with a 1-1 home draw against Hamburger SV.

That meant Bayer 04 Leverkusen would have had to beat VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach by five goals to pip Bremen but that game also finished 1-1. Fourth-placed Leverkusen will be in the UEFA Europa League play-offs alongside BV Borussia Dortmund, fifth despite a 3-1 loss at SC Freiburg, while a third qualifying round berth goes to VfB Stuttgart in sixth after drawing 1-1 with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Lower down, VfL Bochum 1848 have been automatically relegated along with Hertha after a 3-0 home loss to Hannover 96. That result kept Hannover up and means that despite a last-gasp 1-0 win against 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Nürnberg face a two-legged play-off with FC Augsburg to retain top-flight status; 1. FC Kaiserslautern and FC St. Pauli have already been promoted. Last season's champions VfL Wolfsburg ended in eighth following a 3-1 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt.