Ex-Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg ensured their German league survival with a thrilling 3-1 victory at Hoffenheim on Saturday as they came from behind to stay up on the final day of the season. Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath keeps his proud record of never having been relegated just two years after leading Wolves to the 2009 German league title.
After Hoffenheim's Brazilian Roberto Firmino put the hosts ahead just after the break, Wolfsburg roared back as Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic rescued his side with two goals to leave him with eight goals in his last seven games. Brazil striker Grafite then netted a third for Wolves which lifted them to 15th and safety.
Eintracht Frankfurt became the second team relegated automatically when they failed to spoil the party at Borussia Dortmund as the new champions also came from behind to seal a 3-1 win. Dortmund laboured to victory as both striker Lucas Barrios and Brazil defender Dede had penalties saved either side of half-time. But Barrios made amends with a late header, his second goal of the game, to kick off the party as the champions were handed the Bundesliga shield just after the final whistle for the seventh time in their history.
Frankfurt finish 17th and they will join St Pauli, who lost 2-1 at home to Mainz, in the second division next season. Borussia Mönchengladbach's 1-1 draw at Hamburg means they finish 16th and must now play-off for their survivial in Germany's top tier. They will host the team who finish third in the second division, currently Bochum, in a play-off on Thursday with the second leg to take place on Monday May 23.
München finish third
[bild2]Bayern München finish the season third in the Bundesliga and will go into the play-offs for a Champions League place after they beat Stuttgart 2-1 at home. Japan striker Shinji Okazaki put Stuttgart ahead in the first-half, but Germany striker Mario Gomez netted his 28th league goal of the season - his 39th in all competitions - to put his side level at the break.
Gomez's haul leaves him as the season's top goal-scorer in Germany while national team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger headed the winner 19 minutes from time.
Bayer Leverkusen are back in the Champions League since 2005 after they won 1-0 at Freiburg, while Hannover confirmed their Europa League place with a 3-1 win at home to Nürnberg.
Mainz claimed the fifth European berth and will join Hannover in the Europa League after they came back to beat St Pauli. Schalke warmed up for next Saturday's German Cup final against second division Duisburg with a 2-1 defeat at Cologne as Spain veteran Raul netted a late consolation goal.
The matches on Saturday (3.30 pm cet):
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 (0-0)
Hamburger SV - Bor. Mönchengladbach 1-1 (0-1)
1. FC Köln - Schalke 04 2-1 (1-0)
FSV Mainz 05 - FC St. Pauli 2-1 (0-1)
1899 Hoffenheim - VfL Wolfsburg 1-3 (0-0)
SC Freiburg - Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 (0-1)
Bayern München - VfB Stuttgart 2-1 (1-1)
1. FC Kaiserslautern - Werder Bremen 3-2 (3-1)
Hannover 96 - 1. FC Nürnberg 3-1 (1-1)
