Werder take second, Bayern see off Kahn in style

Werder Bremen clinched second place and Nuremberg were relegated on the final day of the season yesterday, while champions Bayern Munich gave Oliver Kahn an almost perfect send-off by beating Hertha Berlin 4-1.

Bayern had already wrapped up their 21st German league title, making the final day all about giving a fitting send-off to goalkeeper Kahn, who is retiring at the age of 38, and departing coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.

They did it thanks to a hat-trick from Luca Toni and one goal from Franck Ribery, their two outstanding players this season.

Werder finished second after winning 1-0 away to Bayer Leverkusen. Schalke 04, who confirmed Nuremberg's relegation by beating them 2-0, had to settle for third and a place in the Champions League final qualifying round.

Hamburg, 7-0 winners at home to Karlsruhe, and Wolfsburg, who beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2, qualify for the UEFA Cup after finishing fourth and fifth.

Toni's three goals yesterday rounded off a great debut season in the Bundesliga for the Italian, who tops the scoring charts with 24.

Hitzfeld, who is leaving Bayern for the second time to become Swiss national team coach after Euro 2008, wept openly after receiving a bouquet of flowers on the pitch before kick-off.

Kahn showed no such emotion as he was substituted to a warm ovation with two minutes to go in his 557th and last Bundesliga match.