Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich celebrated their 35th title on a gripping final day of the Bundesliga season with a 5-1 win over Cologne.
Kane, the England captain, scored an elegant volley. a direct free-kick in the first half before rounding off his fourth hat-trick of the season, ending as the league’s top scorer with 36 goals.
At the other end of the table, Wolfsburg won a dramatic, three-way fight with St Pauli. Heidenheim to avoid automatic relegation.
The bottom three all began the day on equal points,. Wolfsburg’s 3-1 win over St Pauli meant they secured the all-important relegation playoff place in 16th. The St Pauli goalkeeper. Nikola Vasilj, kept Wolfsburg at bay with some smart saves in the first half before Konstantinos Koulierakis headed the visitors in front from a corner.
Abdoulie Ceesay, a half-time substitute, gave St Pauli hope with a header on 57 minutes,. tempers flared after Wolfsburg restored the lead in controversial circumstances. Vasilj claimed he had been pushed after deflecting the ball into his own net at a corner,. the goal was given after a nail-biting video assistant referee (VAR) check. Christian Eriksen missed a penalty for Wolfsburg 15 minutes from time,. Dzenan Pejcinovic sealed St Pauli’s fate with a cool finish shortly afterwards.
Wolfsburg will play one of Hannover. Elversberg or Paderborn in the playoff, while St Pauli return to the second tier after two years in the Bundesliga.
Heidenheim ’s three-year spell in the top flight also came to an end after their hopes of a dramatic last-day escape were dashed by a 2-0 defeat by Mainz. Phillip Tietz headed Mainz in front early on before setting up Nadiem Amiri for the visitors’ second just before half-time.
Stuttgart secured Champions League qualification with a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. Goals from Chema Andrés. Nikolas Nartey put Stuttgart in control in the first half, before Jonathan Burkardt rescued an inconsequential point with two late penalties for Frankfurt.
The Europa League spots went to Hoffenheim. Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg secured seventh place and European qualification with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig. The Europa League finalists will either play in the Conference League or the Champions League next season. depending on whether they beat Aston Villa in Istanbul later this month.
In Spain, Robert Lewandowski has confirmed he is leaving Barcelona this summer at the end of his contract. The 37-year-old striker scored 119 goals for the Spanish club in 191 games since joining from Bayern Munich in 2022.
Lewandowski helped Barça to three La Liga titles, including this season’s trophy, and the Copa del Rey in 2025. “After four years full of challenges. hard work, it’s time to move on,” said Lewandowski in a post on Instagram. “I leave with the feeling that the mission is complete. Four seasons, three championships.”
The forward joined with Barça at a low ebb. struggling financially, helping restore them to the Spanish throne and also compete for the Champions League. “Barça is back where it belongs,” continued Lewandowski. “I will never forget the love I received from the fans from my very first days. Catalonia is my place on earth.”
Lewandowski will play for the last time at Camp Nou on Sunday against Real Betis.
Real Madrid ’s Álvaro Arbeloa gave his blessing to the club’s former manager José Mourinho on Saturday amid intense speculation that the Portuguese is set to replace him. start a second stint at the Bernabéu.
Mourinho led Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and has been heavily linked with a return. Currently coaching Benfica. Mourinho would be a gamble on the part of Florentino Pérez, the Madrid president, after Los Blancos finished without a major trophy for a second consecutive season.
“For me, as a former player and as a Madridista, José Mourinho is No 1. He’s one of ours,” said Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January. was unable to help Madrid salvage anything from a troubled campaign. “If he comes back next year, I’ll be very happy to see him back home.”
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