Schalke reach Champions League

Schalke clinched a place in next season’s Champions League while Werder Bremen made the qualifiers as the Bundesliga season came to an end.

Schalke earned a nerve-wracking 3-2 win at an already-relegated Freiburg to secure the second automatic place behind champions Bayern Munich.

Two-goal hero Marcelo Bordon’s late winner sealed it for Schalke after first Alexander Iashvili and then Roda Antar equalised strikes from Ebbe Sand and Bordon.

Werder Bremen, last season’s Bundesliga champions, prevailed 2-1 at Kaiserslautern.

Bayern Munich ended Stuttgart’s hopes with a 3-1 win and Hertha Berlin must settle for a UEFA Cup spot after a goalless draw with Hannover.

Also in the UEFA Cup are Bayer Leverkusen, who thrashed Borussia Monchengladbach 5-1.

Bochum won 1-0 at Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund beat Hansa Rostock 2-1

Nurnberg’s Marek Mintal finished top Bundesliga goalscorer with 24 for the season after his penalty against Mainz.

However, Mainz prevailed thanks to goals from Niclas Weiland and Michael Thurk.

Wolfsburg won 2-1 at Arminia Bielefeld.