Wolfsburg crowned German champion

Wolfsburg has clinched its first Bundesliga crown after thrashing Werder Bremen 5-1.

The game was effectively settled after 26 minutes when Sebastian Prodl's own goal put the hosts 3-0 up after early strikes from Zvejezdan Misimovic and the prolific Grafite.

Diego pulled one back for a Bremen side which looked weary from its extra-time defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday night but Grafite and the highly-rated Edin Dzeko capped a wonderful afternoon for Wolfsburg.

Winning the 'salad bowl' is a fitting send-off for coach Felix Magath, who was overseeing his final game in charge before joining Schalke next season.

Bayern Munich made certain of the runners-up spot - and a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage next season - after beating Stuttgart, which could have overtaken the deposed champions with a win.

An own goal from Khalid Boulahrouz gave Bayern the lead and Mark van Bommel made it 2-0. Mario Gomez pulled one back but Bayern held on.

At the other end of the table, Arminia Bielefeld and Karlsruhe were relegated with Energie Cottbus' 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen meaning it will now face a two-legged play-off against the team which finishes third in the 2.Bundesliga for the right to play in the top flight next season.

Karlsruhe started the day rock bottom and needing results go its way.

It certainly did its bit with a 4-0 defeat of a Hertha Berlin side which would have claimed a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League with a win.

As it was, Hertha had to settle for the Europa League after succumbing to goals from Sebastian Freis, Maik Franz and a double from Socceroo Josh Kennedy.

Karlsruhe would have therefore clinched the play-off spot if Cottbus had slipped up but it wasn't to be.

Leverkusen had Arturo Vidal sent off on the stroke of half-time and it capitulated after the break, goals from Emil Jula, Stiven Rivic and Jula again meaning Cottbus lives to fight another day.

Bielefeld started the day third from bottom but ended it propping up the rest following their 2-2 draw at home to Hannover.

It started well for the home side when Mario Eggimann put through his own goal in the first minute to put it ahead.

But Jiri Stajner levelled matters 12 minutes into the second half before Sergio Pinto put the visitors ahead after 84 minutes.

Artur Wichniarek equalised in the final minute but Bielefeld could not find the winner it craved.

The other issue to be resolved saw Hamburg pip Borussia Dortmund to the final Europa League place.

The teams came into the game level on points but Hamburg's 3-2 win at Eintracht Frankfurt proved decisive with Dortmund held to a 1-1 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Hamburg's victory came courtesy of a dramatic last-minute winner from substitute Piotr Trochowski.

Earlier, Martin Jol's side had squandered a 2-0 lead given to it by David Jarolim and Ivica Olic.

Alexander Meier pulled one back for Eintracht before Caio made it 2-2 but Trochowski had the final say.

Dortmund fell behind to a Dante strike at Monchengladbach with an equaliser from Jakub Blaszczykowski all Jurgen Klopp's men could muster in response.

Elsewhere, Cologne and Bochum drew 1-1 while Hoffenheim's up-and-down season finished with a 3-2 victory at Schalke.

Carlos Eduardo scored twice for the winter champions who finished seventh thanks to a miserable run of form over the second half