BERLIN — St. Pauli and Heidenheim were relegated from the Bundesliga on Saturday, while Wolfsburg secured the last chance for survival in a dramatic final day of the season.
Wolfsburg Prevails in Relegation Decider
Wolfsburg won a relegation decider at St. Pauli 3-1 to send the home team down and qualify for a playoff against the third-place finisher from the second division.
The winner will play in the top division next season. The last two teams are automatically relegated.
St. Pauli Endure Disappointing Campaign
St. Pauli's defeat extended its winless run to 10 games and left it bottom of the table. Despite the disappointment, fans held their scarves aloft in solidarity.
"It's something you don't see very often," Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt said after witnessing the support from fans despite relegation.
Heidenheim Falls After Long Tenure
Heidenheim were relegated despite a touching show of support from fans. Coach Frank Schmidt, with the club for nearly 19 years, expressed his gratitude.
"To be relegated like this, and yet you go over to our fans and flags are being waved. You really have to let sink in. I wish society, us here in Germany, had the kind of solidarity that we have within this club," Schmidt said.
Stuttgart Secures Champions League Spot
Stuttgart held on for the last Champions League qualification spot despite conceding two late goals in a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen both hoped for favors from Frankfurt but were disappointed. Hoffenheim lost at Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0, while Leverkusen could only draw with Hamburger SV 1-1.
Bayern Munich Celebrates Title
Harry Kane scored a hat trick to take his season tally to 36 goals in Bayern Munich's 5-1 win at home over Cologne.
Leon Goretzka played his last Bundesliga game with Bayern, which was presented with the league trophy after the match.
Captain Manuel Neuer gave the "salad bowl" trophy to Goretzka to hoist to the sky. Customary beer showers followed, with Dayot Upamecano dousing coach Vincent Kompany.
Next fixture: Bayern faces defending champion Stuttgart in the German Cup final in Berlin's Olympiastadion next Saturday.
Eta Claims Second Win at Union Berlin
Marie-Louise Eta oversaw her second win in charge of Union Berlin as the team finished the season with a 4-0 rout of visiting Augsburg.
Eta, the first female coach in the Bundesliga, is slated to take over Union's women's team. She recorded a draw and two wins from her five games in charge.
Other Results
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund finished with a 2-0 win at Werder Bremen, while Freiburg enjoyed a 4-1 win at home over third-placed Leipzig.
Next fixture: Freiburg faces Aston Villa in the Europa League final in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Schalke Clinches Promotion
Second-division champion Schalke will return to the Bundesliga next season.
Three teams — Elversberg, Hannover, and Paderborn — bid on Sunday to join Schalke. One will face Wolfsburg in the playoff, with the first leg in Wolfsburg on Thursday.