European football: Kane uncorks title party with hat-trick; Lewandowski to leave Barça | European club football

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich celebrated their thirty fifth title on a gripping closing day of the Bundesliga season with a 5-1 win over Cologne.

Kane, the England captain, scored a chic volley and a direct free-kick within the first half earlier than rounding off his fourth hat-trick of the season, ending because the league’s high scorer with 36 objectives.

On the different finish of the desk, Wolfsburg gained a dramatic, three-way struggle with St Pauli and Heidenheim to keep away from automated relegation.

The underside three all started the day on equal factors, however Wolfsburg’s 3-1 win over St Pauli meant they secured the all-important relegation playoff place in sixteenth. The St Pauli goalkeeper, Nikola Vasilj, stored Wolfsburg at bay with some sensible saves within the first half earlier than Konstantinos Koulierakis headed the guests in entrance from a nook.

Abdoulie Ceesay, a half-time substitute, gave St Pauli hope with a header on 57 minutes, however tempers flared after Wolfsburg restored the lead in controversial circumstances. Vasilj claimed he had been pushed after deflecting the ball into his personal internet at a nook, however the purpose was given after a nail-biting video assistant referee (VAR) verify. Christian Eriksen missed a penalty for Wolfsburg quarter-hour from time, however Dzenan Pejcinovic sealed St Pauli’s destiny with a cool end shortly afterwards.

Wolfsburg will play one among Hannover, Elversberg or Paderborn within the playoff, whereas St Pauli return to the second tier after two years within the Bundesliga.

Heidenheim’s three-year spell within the high flight additionally got here to an finish after their hopes of a dramatic last-day escape have been dashed by a 2-0 defeat by Mainz. Phillip Tietz headed Mainz in entrance early on earlier than organising Nadiem Amiri for the guests’ second simply earlier than half-time.

Stuttgart secured Champions League qualification with a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. Targets from Chema Andrés and Nikolas Nartey put Stuttgart in management within the first half, earlier than Jonathan Burkardt rescued an inconsequential level with two late penalties for Frankfurt.

The Europa League spots went to Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen, whereas Freiburg secured seventh place and European qualification with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig. The Europa League finalists will both play within the Convention League or the Champions League subsequent season, relying on whether or not they beat Aston Villa in Istanbul later this month.

In Spain, Robert Lewandowski has confirmed he’s leaving Barcelona this summer time on the finish of his contract. The 37-year-old striker scored 119 objectives for the Spanish membership in 191 video games since becoming a member of from Bayern Munich in 2022.

Lewandowski helped Barça to a few La Liga titles, together with this season’s trophy, and the Copa del Rey in 2025. “After 4 years stuffed with challenges and exhausting work, it’s time to maneuver on,” mentioned Lewandowski in a put up on Instagram. “I go away with the sensation that the mission is full. 4 seasons, three championships.”

The ahead joined with Barça at a low ebb and struggling financially, serving to restore them to the Spanish throne and likewise compete for the Champions League. “Barça is again the place it belongs,” continued Lewandowski. “I’ll always remember the love I obtained from the followers from my very first days. Catalonia is my place on earth.”

Lewandowski will play for the final time at Camp Nou on Sunday in opposition to Actual Betis.

Actual Madrid’s Álvaro Arbeloa gave his blessing to the membership’s former supervisor José Mourinho on Saturday amid intense hypothesis that the Portuguese is about to exchange him and begin a second stint on the Bernabéu.

Mourinho led Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and has been closely linked with a return. At the moment teaching Benfica, Mourinho can be a big gamble on the a part of Florentino Pérez, the Madrid president, after Los Blancos completed with out a main trophy for a second consecutive season.

“For me, as a former participant and as a Madridista, José Mourinho is No 1. He’s one among ours,” mentioned Arbeloa, who changed Xabi Alonso in January however was unable to assist Madrid salvage something from a troubled marketing campaign. “If he comes again subsequent yr, I’ll be very completely satisfied to see him again dwelling.”