Out of all the European football leagues this season, you could make a good argument for the German Bundesliga as being the most exciting with three teams having a chance to win the title on the last day of the season.

Well it’s all over now and the leaders going into the last game, VfL Wolfsburg, held their fate in their own hands and saw to it they didn’t blow it.

They hammered Werder Bremen 5-1 on Saturday (May 23rd) to finish the season with 69 points and sparked off wild celebrations at the Volkswagen stadium and in the streets as they earned their first ever Bundesliga championship. Bremen had played in the UEFA Cup Final just three days earlier and lost to Ukranian side Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in extra time.

Wolfsburg came out with all guns blazing today and were up 3-0 already after just 26 minutes of play when Bremen’s Sebastian Proedl scored an own goal. This seemed to be the goal that guaranteed Wolfsburg the title as there was no realistic way back for Bremen after that. Zvejezdan Misimovic had opened the scoring for the home side after six minutes and Grafite made it 2-0 nine minutes later.

To their credit, Bremen tried to make a game of it though, and Diego got them on the score sheet at the 31 minute mark, but that’s all she wrote for the tired visitors.

The romp continued when Grafite scored his second goal of the game at the 56 minute mark and Edin Dzeko capped off the scoring spree with Wolfsburg’s fifth of the day in the 74th minute.

It was a fitting and emotional end to the season for manager Felix Magath, as it was his last game in charge at Wolfsburg before leaving to take over at rivals Schalke next season. Magath and his team went undefeated at home this season and their attacking football was a delight for the fans.

“I think that VfL will be in the running for the title in the future too,” said an emotional Magath. “We have put together a young and hungry team with fantastic prospects. It’s a dream, I never believed we had the chance to win the title, but the boys deserve it. And leaving now will be very difficult,” he added.

Bayern Munich, with 67 points, made sure they ended up in second place, which also guaranteed them of a spot in next year’s Champions League group stage, as they beat Stuttgart 2-1 at home. If Stuttgart (64 points) had won, they would have finished in second and taken the champions League placing. They must now play in the Champions League qualifying round.

An own goal from Khalid Boulahrouz at 16 minutes put Bayern ahead and then Mark van Bommel doubled it to 2-0 after 60 minutes. Stuttgart didn’t quit though and Mario Gomez banged one in to make it 3-1 just three minutes later, but Bayern held on for the win.

At the bottom of the table, Arminia Bielefeld and Karlsruhe were both relegated for next season, while Energie Cottbus’ 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen means they will now play a two-legged play-off against the team that finishes third in the second division. The winner will then play in the first division next season.

Hertha Berlin (fourth place) and Hamburg SV (fifth place) made it to next year’s Europa Cup, which is the new version of the UEFA Cup.

Share

Save

Related Posts

• Shakhtar Donetsk wins UEFA Cup
• European Roundup, Villa makes UEFA Cup
• Barcelona wins 19th Primera League title without having to play
• Scottish, French and German leagues go to the wire, while West Brom go down
• Weekend European wrapup