Ex-Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg ensured their German league survival with a thrilling 3-1 victory at Hoffenheim yesterday as they came from behind to stay up on the final day of the season.

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath, who damned his side on the eve of the match by saying they ‘were not a team’, keeps his proud record of never having been relegated just two years after leading Wolves to the 2009 German league title.

Former Schalke boss Magath only returned to Wolfsburg in March to replace ex-England coach Steve McClaren who was sacked in February with his side sliding down the league table.

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 finished 17th and they will join St Pauli, who lost 2-1 at home to Mainz, in the second division next season.

Borussia Moenchengladbach’s 1-1 draw at Hamburg means they finished 16th and must now play-off for their survival 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.

Bayern Munich ended 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 Hanover confirmed their Europa League place with a 3-1 win at home to Nuremberg.

Mainz claimed the fifth European berth and will join Hanover in the Europa League after they came form behind 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.

Results
B. Munich 2 - Stuttgart 1
B. Dortmund 3 - E. Frankfurt 1
Cologne 2 - Schalke 1
Hamburg 1 - B. M’gladbach 1
Hanover 3 - Nuremberg 1
Kaiserslautern 3 - W. Bremen 2
Mainz 2 - St Pauli 1
Freiburg 0 - B. Leverkusen 1
Hoffenheim 1 - Wolfsburg 3

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