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Bayern break record as Wolfsburg, Bayer reach Europe – (SN)

SoccerNews in Bundesliga 17 May 2008

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Luca Toni scored a hat-trick to secure his place as the Bundesliga's top-scorer as Bayern Munich broke the 20-year record for the least goals conceded in a league season after Saturday's 4-1 win over Hertha Berlin.

Italian World Cup winner Toni, who joined Bayern from Fiorentina last summer, finished the season with 24 league goals – 39 in all competitions – after the win at Munich's Allianz Arena.

And on the final weekend of the season, VfL Wolfsburg and SV Hamburg secured their places in Europe while Nuremberg were relegated.

In his final Bundesliga game for the German giants before retirement, goalkeeper Oliver Kahn let in a late Berlin goal, but his side have leaked just 21 league goals all season.

They have broken Werder Bremen's previous mark of 22 set in the 1987/88 season as Bayern farewelled coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who will take over the Swiss national side, and Kahn who will become a TV pundit next season.

Having wrapped up the league title a fortnight ago, Bayern finished with a 10-point lead as second-placed Werder Bremen beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0.

Toni opened his account with a header from a Franck Ribery cross after just three minutes and followed that up with his 23rd from a Bastian Schweinsteiger cross on 27 minutes.

Ribery slotted Bayern's third goal before Toni smashed home his third on 61 minutes before Berlin forced a consolation goal.

On the final whistle, Kahn lifted the Bundesliga shield for the eighth time in his 14 years at Munich.

Fifth-placed Wolfsburg sealed one of the two UEFA Cup places up for grabs as they raced into a 2-0 lead after just six minutes before running out 4-2 winners against Borussia Dortmund.

Hamburg claimed fourth in the league after striker Jose Paolo Guerrero bagged a hat-trick in their 7-0 rout of Karlsruhe.

The home side took an early lead at home when captain Rafael van der Vaart scored a 23rd minute penalty.

But Peruvian international Guerrero needed just 15 minutes either side of half-time to seal his hat-trick.

And midfielder Piotr Trochowski celebrated his Euro 2008 call up for Germany with a goal in the 57th minute to make it 5-0 before Croatian striker Ivica Olic scored two late goals.

The result was a fitting send off for Dutch coach Huub Stevens who coaches PSV Eindhoven next season to be replaced by ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol.

Having won the 2007 Bundesliga, VfB Stuttgart missed their chance to claim a UEFA Cup place next season when they drew 2-2 with Arminia Bielefeld, who secured their place in Germany's top flight next season.

Relegated Duisburg left the Bundesliga with a whimper as they went down 4-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt.

And third-placed Schalke 04 sent Nuremberg into the second division as captain Marcelo Bordon scored two headers both off crosses from defender Christian Pander to seal a 2-0 win.

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