Bayern Munich's coach Josep Guardiola (L) watches as his players celebrate with the German trophy following their final German first division Bundesliga match of the season against VfB Stuttgart in Munich Saturday. — Reuters BERLIN — Bayern Munich celebrated its 24th Bundesliga title, which it secured on March 25, with a closing win Saturday while Hamburg's hopes of remaining in the Bundesliga now hinge on the playoffs. Bayern rounded off its Bundesliga campaign with a 1-0 win over Stuttgart, its 29th victory of the season coming courtesy of an injury time goal from Claudio Pizarro. Pep Guardiola's titleholders, knocked out of the Champions League semifinals by Real Madrid, will now focus on next Saturday's German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund. Hamburg, on the other hand, faces a nervy playoff before its record-breaking Bundesliga status is assured. The only side never to have been relegated in the Bundesliga's 51-year history will play the team which finishes third in the second division in a two-legged playoff. Hamburg, crowned European champion 31 years ago, assured its place in the playoffs despite a 3-2 loss at Mainz 05. It finished the regular season on 27 points and had Schalke 04 and Hoffenheim to thank for keeping its Bundesliga future alive. Schalke dished out a 4-1 beating to Nuremberg and Hoffenheim saw off basement club Eintracht Braunschweig 3-1, to ensure it was Nuremberg and Eintracht that were relegated. They finished with 26 and 25 points respectively. Hamburg's plight is all a far cry from its glory days when Felix Magath, now the manager of relegated English Premier League side Fulham, grabbed the only goal in the German side's 1-0 final win over Juventus to lift the European Cup in 1983. That was a side coached by legendary Austrian Ernst Happel, the man who led the Dutch to the 1978 World Cup final in Argentina and who won league titles in four different countries. In stark contrast, the Hamburg of 2013-14 is already on its third coach after Mirko Slomka took over in February. In a reflection of the instability, Thorsten Fink had only lasted until September while Bert van Marwijk, the former Dutch national team coach, was axed after the winter break. At the top of the table, meanwhile, Bayern was joined as automatic qualifiers for next season's Champions League by runner-up Borussia Dortmund (4-0 winner over Hertha Berlin) and Schalke 04. And Bayer Leverkusen beat Werder Bremen 2-1 to ensure a fourth place finish and a Champions League playoff spot. Also Saturday, Augsburg defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1. Robert Lewandowski scored twice in his last game for Borussia Dortmund to finish as the league's top scorer with 20 goals. He is joining Bayern Munich next season. — Agencies
