Bayern win thriller on final day as Dortmund slump

BERLIN (AFP) –

Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben, Javier Martinez and Thomas Mueller celebrate scoring during their German first division Bundesliga football match against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the German city of Moenchengladbach on May 18, 2013. Bayern Munich came from two goals down to seal a 4-3 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Bayern Munich came from two goals down to seal a 4-3 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach, while their Champions League final opponents, Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim on the final day of the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Champions Bayern dug deep for their 29th league victory in 34 matches as Franck Ribery scored twice, then set up Arjen Robben for the winner after Gladbach had scored three goals in the opening 10 minutes.

“The first ten minutes didn’t go as we had imagined,” admitted coach Jupp Heynckes after his 1011th and final Bundesliga game, with Pep Guardiola to take charge of Bayern next month.

“I had the feeling the team were still at last Saturday’s party to celebrate the league title.

“But the team slowly got the game under control and we played like we’re used to in the second half. I realised my team wanted to win for me.”

Dortmund defender Mats Hummels (R) and Hoffenheim’s Sejad Salihovic fight for the ball during their German first division Bundesliga football match at the Signal Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund on May 18, 2013. Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim.

Bayern finish the season with 25 Bundesliga records, including most wins, most points (91), fewest goals conceded (18) and the biggest points lead over the side in second (25).

Fielding the side likely to start the Champions League final at Wembley next Saturday, and despite previously conceding only four goals away all season, Bayern leaked three goals in the first action-packed 10 minutes.

Borussia raced into the lead as Austrian defender Martin Stranzl headed home, then 66 seconds later striker Mike Hanke, on his last appearance for Borussia, added Gladbach’s second after a mistake by Bayern centre-back Dante.

Munich’s Javi Martinez pulled one back when he converted Ribery’s pass on seven minutes, but Bayern went 3-1 down when Norway’s Havard Nordtveit rolled his shot past Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

With Heynckes fuming on the sidelines, Ribery pulled a second back with a crisp shot to make it 3-2 on 18 minutes.

He then saved Bayern’s blushes by equalising on 53 minutes, before his cross found Robben at the far post, with the Dutch winger tapping home to give Bayern the lead for the first time just before the hour mark.

Hoffenheim now face a promotion/relegation play-off against second division Kaiserslautern to stay in the Bundesliga after they stunned Dortmund as winger Sejad Salihovic netted two penalties in the last 13 minutes to leave them 16th.

Borussia captain and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller was sent off on 81 minutes for the foul which led to the second spot-kick.

Frankfurt’s players pour beer over head coach Armin Veh in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 18, 2013. Eintracht Frankfurt finish sixth after they drew 2-2 at home to 10-man VfL Wolfsburg.

Despite a string of chances to add to Robert Lewandowski’s first-half goal, Dortmund conceded an equaliser when centre-back Mats Hummels fouled Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland in the area, giving away a penalty and then limping out of the game.

Salihovic netted the spot kick on 77 minutes but then Weidenfeller fouled Sven Schipplock and was sent off four minutes later. As Dortmund had made three substitutions, winger Kevin Grosskreutz had to step in as emergency goalkeeper.

Salihovic netted his second spot kick to Hoffenheim’s delight and although Dortmund had the ball in the net from Marcel Schmelzer’s shot in added time, the referee ruled it out for offside.

“For an hour, we played outstanding football, but were not consistent enough in front of goal,” said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

“We now draw a thick line under the Bundesliga season and see now if all the players are fit for the final.”

L-R: Augsburg’s Dong-Won Ji, Kevin Vogt and manager Stefan Reuter celebrate after the third goal for Augsburg during their German first division Bundesliga match against Greuther Fuerth in Augsburg, southern Germany, on May 18, 2013. Augsburg won the match 3-1.

Schalke 04 secured their Champions League play-off place with a 2-1 win at Freiburg as an own-goal by Julian Schuster for the visitors secured the Royal Blues’ win.

Freiburg will be joined in the Europa League next season by Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished sixth after they drew 2-2 at home to 10-man VfL Wolfsburg, who had Japan defender Makoto Hasebe sent off.

Hasebe brought down compatriot Takashi Inui on 36 minutes and was shown a straight red.

South Korea’s Ji Dong-Won guaranteed Augsburg’s Bundesliga place next season with his side’s final goal in their 3-1 win at home to relegated Greuther Fuerth.

Fortuna Dusseldorf, who lost 3-0 at Hanover thanks to Mame Diouf and Didier Ya Konan’s goals, are relegated alongside Fuerth.

Stefan Kiessling finished as the Bundesliga top-scorer with 25 goals as he sealed third-placed Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 win at Hamburg with the 90th-minute winner.