Bayern clinch title

Two goals from Arjen Robben were enough to secure Bayern victory on the last day of the soccer season against Hertha Berlin.

Bayern finished with 70 points, five above closest rivals Schalke who finished goalless at Mainz.

Croatia striker Ivica Olic put Munich ahead when he scored his eleventh league goal of the season on 20 minutes, drilling a pass from Dutch winger Robben into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Berlin fought back when Adrian Ramos levelled on 59 minutes and it was Robben who went on to settle the outcome. He took a pass from teammate Thomas Mueller and fired a shot in from outside the area with his left foot. He added a third when a deflected strike from Diego Contento rebounded off the bar with just three minutes left on the clock.

It was a second straight league win for Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, who won the Dutch league last year with AZ Alkmaar.

"We highly deserve to be champions," said van Gaal, who was showered with beer by his players in celebration. "We have played the most attacking football in the Bundesliga."

Bayern will now look ahead to the German Cup final against Werder Bremen in Berlin next week, followed by the Champions League final at the end of the month.

"We have to be careful. It is good that we won today to stay in the rhythm," said van Gaal.

Penalty save for Schalke

Schalke were already sure of a second place finish - and an automatic place in next season's Champions League. They finished the season with a 0-0 draw against Mainz with a penalty save for Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is set to be Germany's number one at next month's World Cup.

Bremen clinched third place, and booked a place in the Champions League qualifying round by drawing 1-1 draw at home to Hamburg. Peruvian Claudio Pizarro netted for the home side with Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring for the visitors.

Bayer Leverkusen claimed a Europa League place for next season with a 1-1 draw at Borussia Moenchgladbach that put them in fourth spot.

European competition, relegation

Borussia Dortmund will also take part in the competition as they finished fifth despite losing 3-1 at Freiburg. Stuttgart finished sixth to claim the last European place with a 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim.

A 3-1 win over Frankfurt ended a disappointing season for last year's champions Wolfsburg, who end the season in eighth place.

Hanover preserved their Bundesliga status with a 3-0 win at Bochum, who are relegated as a result. Nuremberg beat Cologne 1-0, but will still have to endure a relegation showdown in a play-off with the third-placed second division side, likely to be Augsburg.

rc/Reuters/AFP
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar