The 28-year-old was playing for Netherlands in a friendly match against his club side, and was booed each time he touched the ball after his 75th-minute arrival on the pitch.

Oranje was beaten 3-2 by Bayern just three days after the Bundesliga club lost out to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final.

Robben missed an extra-time penalty in that match, which was also held at the Allianz Arena, and in a statement his club condemned the jeers.

"Some fans were clearly disappointed that Arjen Robben was playing in the Holland team and not in a Bayern Munich shirt just three days after the lost Champions League final," said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"This, however, does not give anybody the right to boo one of our players.

"Arjen Robben is, like all of the players, fans and friends of Bayern Munich, disappointed and deeply hurt by the unlucky and undeserved defeat in a penalty shoot-out in the Champions League final against Chelsea.

"But the style of FC Bayern and our fans is to reach out and help those who are lying on the ground, like the majority of the 33,000 fans did by chanting Arjen Robben's name.

"We have received lots of reaction from our fans today, who want to apologise to Arjen Robben on behalf of those who whistled."

The incident also drew condemnation from Netherlands captain Mark van Bommel, who urged Robben to reconsider his Bayern future despite recently signing a contract extension until 2015.

"It's absolutely outrageous how the fans treated Arjen Robben," Van Bommel told Voetbal International.

"You only have to look at what he has accomplished there. He scored a penalty against Real Madrid in the (Champions League) semi-finals.

"People seem to have forgotten that. They should be pleased to have such a player.

"A large part of the German crowd booed their own player. That cannot happen.

"If I was Arjen, I would start thinking about whether I still want to play football there, even if my contract has just been renewed.

"Arjen is very strong mentally, and comes back stronger each time after every setback. I don't know what Arjen is going to do but this is a disgrace."

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk also said he would understand if Robben wants to leave Bayern after being booed by their fans.

"It is a disgrace the way they treated Arjen," said Van Marwijk. "I can understand when a player considers whether he should leave or not in such a situation.

"That is not funny anymore, that is serious."

The game was arranged by means of compensation to the Bundesliga club after the Dutch forward returned from the 2010 World Cup with an injury.

The northern Germany side has brought in Raphael Wolf from Kapfenberg to challenge Sebastian Mielitz for the number one jersey.

Strebinger has now signed a two-year deal after joining the club for an undisclosed fee from Hertha Berlin and he is likely to become the club's third-choice goalkeeper.

"Richard Strebinger is a talented player with a lot of potential," said Bremen's director of sport Klaus Allofs.

"We believe he can take the next step in his career with us and we hope he can perform well in our reserve team and recommend himself for a place in our Bundesliga team."

The Oranje were beaten 3-2 by Bayern just three days after the Bundesliga club lost out to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final.

Robben, who missed a penalty against the Blues, came on as a 75th-minute substitute for Netherlands against his club side but was jeered by sections of the crowd.

And Van Bommel was furious at the treatment he received.

"It's absolutely outrageous how the fans treated Arjen Robben," the midfielder told Voetbal International.

"You only have to look at what he has accomplished there. He scored a penalty against Real Madrid in the (Champions League) semi-finals.

"People seem to have forgotten that. They should be pleased to have such a player.

"A large part of the German crowd booed their own player. That cannot happen.

"If I was Arjen, I would start thinking about whether I still want to play football there, even if my contract has just been renewed.

"Arjen is very strong mentally, and comes back stronger each time after every setback. I don't know what Arjen is going to do but this is a disgrace."

Robben recently signed an extended deal with Bayern until 2015, but Wesley Sneijder says he would be welcome at his current employers, Inter Milan.

"The reaction from the fans was scandalous," said Netherlands midfielder Sneijder.

"Not only that, but over the last few days no-one at Bayern has defended him. By doing that, they're shutting him out.

"Arjen has had a very disappointing evening. If it was my decision, he'll come to Inter this summer."

The 27-year-old has broken off negotiations over a new contract and will leave the Bundesliga club as a free agent this northern summer.

"Tranquillo has turned down our offer and he will leave us on June 30," said Bayer's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser on his club's website.

"This is very regrettable because we wanted to extend his contract, but we could not reach an agreement financially."

A serious knee injury has kept the former Hannover midfielder on the sidelines for much of the last campaign but he was a regular in the previous five seasons in which he made a total of 183 Bundesliga appearances.

It is not clear whether the 59-time Switzerland international has found a new club.

Hertha claims the game was unable to reach a natural conclusion after hundreds of Fortuna fans invaded the pitch with over a minute of the game remaining.

The final 90 seconds were played after a delay of 20 minutes to clear the field and Hertha says it was unable to concentrate on playing football.

The German FA rejected its appeal, but Hertha has called for another hearing.

It has a further 24 hours to present its appeal against the DFB's ruling and, in the meantime, both clubs are continuing to train in case the second leg of the play-off for a place in the Bundesliga next season is indeed replayed.

"This is not a judgement that we can accept," said Hertha's solicitor Christoph Schickhardt on the club's website.

"It is not acceptable for all those interested in sport.

"Everybody saw that it was an irregular game. It was not a football game in the end.

"The judge spoke of it being a positive pitch invasion. That is quite a funny term for what we all saw."

Hertha insists that, even if the Fortuna fans invaded the pitch out of joy and not with the explicit intent of menacing its players, it was still "impossible to concentrate on playing football" when the teams returned with Hertha needing a goal to stay up.

"For Hertha BSC (Berlin), it is fully inconceivable that the result of a game can only be overturned when a player is actually physically injured," a club statement read.

Hertha has meanwhile apologised for the conduct of its players after the final whistle when they remonstrated with referee Wolfgang Stark and tried to gain access to his dressing room.

Fortuna held on to a 2-2 draw to seal a 4-3 aggregate win over Hertha to gain promotion back to the Bundesliga for the first time in 15 years.

The fixture in Dusseldorf was twice halted due to fan unrest, first after Hertha supporters threw fireworks onto the pitch and then when hundreds of Fortuna fans streamed onto the field with over a minute of stoppage time still to be played.

Once order was restored the match ended in a 2-2 draw, enough for Fortuna to win 4-3 on aggregate and replace Hertha in the Bundesliga next season.

Hertha argued that the result should be declared null and void and the match replayed as its players were unable to focus on football during the final minute of the match, and lodged an appeal with the DFB that was considered by a tribunal in a seven-hour hearing on Friday.

In announcing the tribunal's decision, chairman Hans E. Lorenz said: "The appeal was unsuccessful as no reasonable grounds for an appeal could be established.

"The referee reacted in accordance with the laws of the game and Hertha BSC's claim of a disadvantage because of the match interruption could not be substantiated."

Hertha has 24 hours to lodge an appeal against this latest ruling, and have previously indicated they intend to do so.

Hans-Joachim Watzke has told Sport Bild the club will not be fooled into selling him for a derisory price even though the 23-year-old has just a year remaining on his contract.

"We all know the abilities of Shinji, his youth and the value he adds to this side," said Watzke, whose team successfully defended its title this season and hammered rivals Bayern Munich 5-2 in the German Cup final.

"I also note what Bayern Munich paid for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (22 million euros from Schalke last year). He also only had a year left on his contract."

"Given those facts we can certainly expect a princely sum for him."

According to media reports, English Premier League runner-up Manchester United has bid only $7.8 million for Kagawa, who cost Dortmund just $453 000 when it bought him from J.League side Cerezo Osaka in 2010.

Hertha drew with second-division club Fortuna Duesseldorf 2-2 on Tuesday after chaotic scenes which forced the referee to halt the game three times.

The capital's only top-division club appealed the result, claiming a pitch invasion two minutes from the end prevented players from scoring the winning goal and staying in the Bundesliga.

Meanwhile, Duesseldorf police said on Friday that match referee Wolfgang Stark has filed a criminal complaint against a player for assaulting him off the pitch.

Police spokesman Markus Niesczery didn't say which player or team was involved.

The play-off fixture between the two clubs on Tuesday did not reach a regular conclusion due to a pitch invasion, according to Hertha, whose appeal will be heard by the German Football Association (DFB) shortly.

Fortuna won 2-1 in Berlin and a 2-2 draw at home sealed a 4-3 aggregate victory for the 2. Bundesliga club, which has not played in the top flight for 15 years.

But Hertha feels the game should be replayed and Fortuna has decided to cancel its planned official celebrations this Saturday.

"After analysing the situation, we have reached a clear decision that a regular procedure of the game was no longer possible in these conditions," said Hertha's director of sport Michael Preetz.

"We have therefore appointed our solicitor Christoph Schickhardt to officially appeal the result within the necessary deadline."

Hundreds of Fortuna fans streamed onto the field with over a minute of stoppage time still to be played at the end of the match.

It took security forces 20 minutes to clear the field again while Hertha's players were hesitant about returning to the field, which was still lined with fans awaiting the real final whistle.

They eventually did return, with referee Wolfgang Stark bringing an end to proceedings slightly earlier than scheduled when he was located close to the tunnel to make a swift escape as Fortuna fans once again flooded onto the field.

According to Schickhardt, Hertha has a good chance of succeeding with its appeal since it was impossible for the players to focus on football throughout that final minute.

"In the DFB regulations, it clearly states that a game which takes place in such circumstances must not be given an official result," he said on the Bundesliga club's website.

"That necessarily leads to this result being annulled."

Hertha will be requesting that the game be replayed, meaning the outcome of the tie is still hanging in the balance.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who was expected to lose his number-one berth at Hoffenheim to the incoming Tim Wiese, told Sport Bild magazine that he will sign a three-year contract with the Bavarians as soon as he passes a medical.

"I am delighted that my future is resolved," Starke said. "And I am also looking forward to the challenge in Munich."

Starke was a fans' favourite and vice-captain at Hoffenheim, but the arrival of Germany international Wiese from Werder Bremen for the start of next season indicated that he would no longer be its first choice.

Starke's contract ends in June so he will leave Hoffenheim on a free transfer.

Bayern's current number two goalkeeper, Hans-Jorg Butt, will retire after Saturday's UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea.

Starke added: "Of course now I am a really big Bayern fan so I am keeping my fingers crossed even more for them for the Chelsea game."

Former Melbourne Victory striker Kruse's Fortuna Dusseldorf secured a return to the Bundesliga for the first time since 1997 by winning a play-off and condemning Rukavytsya's Hertha Berlin to relegation to the second tier.

Having won 2-1 in Berlin in the first leg, Fortuna secured a 2-2 draw on home turf on Tuesday.

Fortuna had finished third in the second flight with Hertha ending its season third-bottom in the top flight.

While Kruse did not make an appearance in the second leg, Rukavytsya started and came off in the second-half for his team.

Both players have been selected in Holger Osieck's squad for upcoming matches against Denmark, Oman and Japan, with Kruse a regular under the German coach and Rukavytsya earning a recall after a series of strong performances for his club.

The result comes as a boost to Kruse, who joined Dusseldorf on a three-year deal at the start of the season after impressing in the A-League and for Australia.

The 23-year-old will be hoping to have more of an impact in his second season in Germany after making 13 appearances, mostly off the bench, in his first campaign.

Rukavytsya had more success, making 24 appearances and scoring a goal, but will spend the final year of his three-season contract back in the second tier after his club was relegated just a year after being promoted.

Kruse will join the likes of Australians Mitchell Langerak, Mustafa Amini (both Borussia Dortmund) and Mathew Leckie (Borussia Moenchengladbach) in the Bundesliga next season.

In Tuesday's second-leg in Dusseldorf, nine yellow cards were distributed and the match ended in confusion as hundreds of Fortuna fans stormed the pitch even though there were two minutes of injury time remaining.

After security personnel restored order, Fortuna's players returned to the pitch but had to wait several minutes for their opponents to appear before they were finally able to finish the match.

The game had to be stopped twice late on, the first time after Hertha fans threw fireworks on to the pitch and the second when Fortuna supporters invaded it with one minute remaining, prompting a 15-minute delay as the teams to left the pitch and police and stewards tried to restore order.

The match ended 2-2 on the night, with Fortuna winning 4-3 on aggregate to replace Hertha in the Bundesliga next season.

The pitch invasion came during seven minutes of stoppage time and Rehhagel was disturbed by the scenes.

"It was catastrophic, I never experienced anything like it," said the 73-year-old.

"I could not have imagined something like that being possible in Dusseldorf.

"It really could have ended in a catastrophe."

Fortuna coach Norbert Meier praised the way in which referee Wolfgang Stark dealt with the situation.

"We all want to see football," he said.

"Quite honestly, I was pleased that Mr Stark kept such a cool head and was a relaxing influence on both sides.

"Compliments must go to Mr Stark for his performance."

Hertha finished the game with 10 men and Rehhagel claimed Anis Ben-Hatira's red card cost the capital club its place in the Bundesliga.

Ben-Hatira was sent off in the 54th minute of the match, picking up a second yellow card when the game was finely poised at 1-1 and Rehhagel's side was pushing for a goal which would have levelled the tie.

"Of course it is a great disappointment for us that we were unfortunately unable to make it," said Rehhagel, whose short-term contract has now expired.

"We had to play with a man less yet again. If we had remained with 11 men then we would have been able to cause them more problems.

"We were only a few inches away and had we not got the red card, then I think we would have been able to gain more from this game."

The play-off second leg had to be stopped twice, the second because of a pitch invasion, but eventually the visitor was relegated to the second division after going down 4-3 on aggregate.

Socceroos attacker Nikita Rukavytsya played 72 minutes for relegated Hertha while countryman Robbie Kruse was not in promoted Dusseldorf's squad.

Maximilian Beister gave Fortuna a dream start with a goal inside the first minute, but Anis Ben-Hatira replied with a header in the 22nd minute.

Ben-Hatira was given his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 54th minute and Fortuna did not need long to take advantage with Ranisav Jovanovic putting it 2-1 up five minutes later.

Hertha fans manifested their frustration, interrupting the play as they threw fireworks onto the pitch, and not even an equaliser from Raffael in the 84th minute could appease them as they again disrupted the proceedings, causing seven minutes of stoppage time to be added.

A pitch invasion with a minute still to be played caused a further delay before referee Wolfgang Stark blew the final whistle to bring an end to the drama and seal Fortuna's return to the top flight.

Beister, who will join Hamburg next season and was therefore already certain of a place in the Bundesliga, gave the home side a perfect start with a long-range effort that caught Thomas Kraft cold with less than a minute played.

Hertha responded well and deservedly levelled through Ben-Hatira in the 22nd minute as he headed Ronny's free-kick past Michael Ratajczak.

Hertha's chances of getting the goal which would have levelled the tie were dealt a blow when Ben-Hatira was sent off for a second yellow card in the 54th minute.

Five minutes later, Jovanovic headed Fortuna back in front from Thomas Broker's cross, but the drama was only just beginning.

Adam Matuschyk shot wide of an open goal as he missed the chance to seal Fortuna's return to the top flight, and almost in the next Hertha attack, Otto Rehhagel's side levelled.

Raffael played the ball to the feet of Adrian Ramos inside the penalty area, and he returned the gesture to set up Raffael to give Hertha hope with the equaliser on the night.

Only one goal was now needed to keep Hertha in the top flight, but its fans did not seem to care as they once again threatened to force the game's abandonment as they threw more fireworks onto the pitch.

After a break of several minutes the game restarted with seven minutes of stoppage time announced.

With Dusseldorf fans lining the pitch preparing to invade it at the final whistle, Jovanovic missed the chance to seal the win in the sixth minute of stoppage time when he wasted a one-on-one against Kraft.

Hundreds of fans stormed on to the field of play with one minute of the game still to be played.

The teams were forced to leave the pitch as stewards and police tried to send the fans back into the stands, forcing a delay of 15 minutes while order was restored.

Both sides eventually emerged with Hertha seeming reluctant to return to play out the remaining 60 seconds before another pitch invasion greeted the final whistle, with Dusseldorf returning to the Bundesliga in dramatic circumstances.

Pizarro activated an option to terminate his deal a year early, and the 33-year-old confirmed he was keen for another challenge before retiring.

"It was a difficult decision because I love this team and the club, but I would like to do something new at the end of my career. I can't yet say what that will be, but I have several propositions that I have to consider," Pizarro said on club website werder.de.

Pizarro enjoys the distinction of being the leading non-German goalscorer to grace the Bundesliga, with 160 goals in 333 appearances - 89 of them for Bremen across three stints since first signing for the club in 1999.

"Three times we had managed to convince him of Werder, a fourth time was not possible," Bremen director of sport Klaus Allofs said.

"We regret it very much, but are glad that finally a decision has come and we thank Claudio for a great time together."

Bayern Munich is thought to be tracking the availability of its former player, who made nearly 200 league appearances for the Bavarian club between 2001 and 2007.

Pizarro signed off from Bremen on a personal high with two goals in their 3-2 defeat to Schalke on the final day of the season, and coach Thomas Schaaf was happy that his future had been resolved so quickly.

"We must accept this decision. I would have liked to continue working with him, but it was important for Claudio to state his intentions," Schaaf said.

"We are now planning for the upcoming season ahead and looking for attractive solutions."

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc told German daily Bild that he met the player's agent and Kagawa "will definitely not be extending his contract with us."

The 23-year-old Kagawa has one year left on his contract with the two-time Bundesliga champion.

Zorc indicated Dortmund was ready to negotiate "should offers arrive for Kagawa now."

Dortmund paid nearly $450,000 to Cerezo Osaka for Kagawa in 2010, but his performances over two years in the Bundesliga are likely to command a much higher fee.

The attacking midfielder's 21 goals in 49 league games over two seasons played a large part in helping Dortmund achieve successive titles.

Kicker magazine reported that Kagawa flew with his agent to Manchester on Monday evening.

Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson attended the German Cup final in Berlin, when Kagawa scored one goal and set up another to help Dortmund rout Bayern Munich 5-2 in what may have been his last game for the club.

The pair took over for the final six games of the season after the dismissal of Robin Dutt and, with 14 points out of a possible 18, they have done enough to convince club bosses to appoint them on permanent deals.

"Sascha Lewandowski and Sami Hyypia proved in their six games this season that they could lead this team with a blend of competence, charisma, hard work and relaxation," said Leverkusen's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser.

"This refreshing combination gives us reason to look into the future optimistically.

"With the duo of Lewandowski ad Hyypia, we want to further cement our place in the top third of the Bundesliga with the aim of qualifying for European competition."

Hyypia, who raised doubts about whether coaching was for him during his six-game interim spell in charge, is now fully convinced that the Leverkusen hot seat is perfect for him and Lewandowski.

"Although we did not know each other beforehand and only had little time to develop a concept, the last weeks for Sascha, the club and I were successful," he said on the club's website.

"For Bayer to now give us a chance to carry on together is a great show of faith.

"We are convinced that, with this team and with these colleagues, we will be able to play a good role both at home and abroad in future."

With Leverkusen looking to make a challenge in the Europa League next season, Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voller believes the former Liverpool defender's experience could come in useful.

"Sami has played at the highest level in Europe for 10 years and, in his last two years as a player with Leverkusen, he left a very good impression," he said.

"He was made to coach a team and he will certainly take Bayer forwards in his new role together with Sascha."

Lewandowski, who was in charge of the youth team last season, is also looking forward to his new role at the helm of the first-team squad.

He said: "Sami and I took over the side in a difficult phase for the club and we quickly harmonised," he said.

"Our collaboration was always based on faith and it was very productive, and I am looking forward to intensifying it."

The Japan international still has a year left to run on his current deal with the Bundesliga champion, but he is a player in demand - he has been heavily linked with Manchester United - and Dortmund is unlikely to want to run the risk of losing him for nothing next year.

"I had a meeting with his agent yesterday morning and Shinji Kagawa has informed us that he will definitely not be extending his contract," Dortmund director of sport Michael Zorc told the Bild newspaper.

"Should we now receive offers for Kagawa, then we will consider and negotiate them."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan were present at the DFB-Pokal final at the weekend as 23-year-old Kagawa scored in Dortmund's 5-2 win over Bayern Munich.

Kagawa will command a significantly higher fee than the 350,000 euros Dortmund paid Cerezo Osaka for him in 2010.

He has scored 21 goals in 49 Bundesliga matches, playing a key role in the club's back-to-back league titles.

Brazilian playmaker Diego has spent the last season on loan with Atletico Madrid after falling out with Magath last August.

He stormed out of the team's hotel after learning that he would not be in the side to face Hoffenheim in a Bundesliga fixture and he was subsequently suspended from the first team and put on the transfer list, ending up at Atletico.

However, Magath is now willing to let bygones be bygones after seeing for himself how valuable the 27-year-old can be, with his starring role in the final against Athletic Bilbao crowned by a late third goal in Atleti's 3-0 win.

"All you can do is congratulate him on his fantastic performance," said Magath in the Bild newspaper.

"He played an excellent game."

Magath now hopes Diego will return to the northern Germany club to honour his contract and give similar joy to the club's fans.

"He has a contract with us from July 1 and, as things stand, I expect him to appear for pre-season training," added Magath.

"Our fans can look forward to seeing him again."

Magath acted similarly with Patrick Helmes in the winter after he failed to find an employer after being put on the transfer list.

He returned to score 10 goals in 10 games in the second half of the season and almost burst into the Germany squad for EURO 2012 after Magath suddenly found room for him in his side, only months after dropping him to the youth team and declaring him surplus to requirements.

The 73-year-old's three-month tenure looks destined to end in failure but Rehhagel is confident Hertha can overturn the deficit in the return leg in Dusseldorf on Wednesday (AEST).

"Of course the lads are very, very disappointed, but we still have a small chance," he said.

"There is not much time, but we will travel to Dusseldorf with fresh belief."

Hertha led 1-0 but Fortuna hit back to edge closer to ending its 15-year absence from the Bundesliga.

Coach Norbert Meier was not taking anything for granted though.

"Of course the fans can celebrate, but we have got to concentrate next Tuesday," he said.

"I am pleased that the stadium is going to be sold out because it is going to be exciting for the fans.

"This was one game and we still have another. We have reached our intermediate goal."

Bayern faces Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final on Saturday (Sunday AEST) at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

It then hosts Chelsea at Munich's Allianz Arena on May 19 as the Bavarian side looks to lift European football's top domestic title for the first time since 2001.

Schweinsteiger tore ankle ligaments at the start of February and despite making his return a month later, says he still has problems.

"You have days when you notice the problem is still there and not yet fully recovered," said Schweinsteiger.

"The injury is fading away, but there is something still not quite right."

Schweinsteiger has been twice hit by injury this season after breaking his collarbone last November, then damaging ankle ligaments.

As the vice-captain of both Bayern and Germany, Schweinsteiger says he will be fully fit for Euro 2012, which starts on June 8 to be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland.

"We will have a long training camp to prepare, when we can train really well and I'll need that then," said Schweinsteiger.

Roman Hubnik headed Hertha in front in the 19th minute but Thomas Broker levelled for the visiting side in the 64th minute.

An own goal from Adrian Ramos in the 71st minute gave Norbert Meier's side a second away goal and a one-goal lead to take with them into the second leg.

The sides now head to Dusseldorf for the return leg next Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) with 51,000 fans expected to help Fortuna rejoin the Bundesliga after a 15-year absence.

Fortuna started brightly, looking to become only the second 2. Bundsliga side to prevail in the play-off after Nurnberg succeeded three years ago.

It went close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Andreas Lambertz found himself with only Thomas Kraft to beat, but the Hertha goalkeeper came out on top of that battle.

Kraft had no chance a minute later in reaching Adam Bodzek's flying header which went just wide of the post.

Hertha's response came in the form of the opening goal which had much of the 70,000 fans on their feet in the 19th minute.

Anis Ben-Hatira sent in a corner from the left which was met by the giant defender Hubnik, who headed the home side in front from seven yards out.

The goal gave Hertha confidence and Ben-Hatira, whose two goals last weekend helped earn Hertha this second chance, sent a shot just wide after half an hour.

Fortuna held out until the break, when it reorganised, emerging for the second half with the same verve it had shown in the opening exchanges.

However, this left it susceptible to Hertha's counter-attacking tactics and the host side missed a glorious chance to double its lead in the 58th minute.

Ben-Hatira's cross was met by Ramos, but the Colombian headed wide of the post.

Fortuna was unable to make any inroads through a disciplined and packed Hertha defence with Lambertz resorting to shooting from distance, but Kraft had no problem plucking his shot out of the air in the 62nd minute.

It finally made the breakthrough in the 68th minute with Broker scoring a fine individual goal, beating a host of Hertha defenders before keeping his cool to slot the ball past Kraft and in off the inside of the near post.

It was Fortuna's turn to play with more confidence, and it went in front in the 71st minute.

Ken Ilsoe's free-kick was curled dangerously into the penalty area where Ramos unwittingly headed it past his own goalkeeper.

Hertha coach Otto Rehhagel sent an extra striker in Tunay Torun on for the final 15 minutes and the home side camped in the Fortuna half with the visiting side defending resolutely.

Ronny came close to an equaliser by hitting the post in the 88th minute and Kraft made a fine save to deny Broker in stoppage time as Fortuna held onto a result which puts it closer to a place in the top flight next season.

Dortmund goes into the final looking to complete a league and cup double having retained its Bundesliga title last month, but whatever happens in Berlin, Klopp is likely to have a smile on his face after the full-time whistle.

"If, in the 50% chance the game does not end positively for us, then I can say I will still be celebrating," he said at a press conference.

"We are going to be taking the Bundesliga trophy with us so we will have something in our hands anyway.

"Of course it would be nicer to run around the pitch with both trophies."

Lukasz Piszczek and Robert Lewandowski will be part of those celebrations and Dortmund's general manager Hans Joachim Watzke issued a blunt warning to any clubs looking to prise the sought-after pair away this summer.

"Any club in the world, be it even Real Madrid or Barcelona, who want to make offers for Piszczek and Lewandowski can save themselves the effort because neither of them is on the market," he said.

"They are not available for any price in the world, and I don't think you can rule things out more clearly than that."

Wiese is set to take Starke's place in the Hoffenheim goal next season, but club vice-captain Babbel had been open with him about the deal and he is not taking it personally.

"Our relationship is fine because he was honest to me," he said.

"Of course this is a sad decision for me, but it is not about individual people and Babbel made that clear that he thinks Tim Wiese is great and he made it clear from the very beginning that he would try to bring him to Hoffenheim.

"I have to accept that. He never lied to me or made any illusions, so everything is fine."

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old admitted he is now considering his options, and one of them is to leave Hoffenheim this summer.

"I am open for everything, but one thing is certain - I want to be playing," he told sport1.de.

"I wouldn't be averse to moving abroad either, but I have to be careful with what I say because I still have a contract here with Hoffenheim, even if they have said I can leave.

"My agent is already looking for a new challenge for me."

Starke joined in 2010 and soon became a fan favourite, as well as an important voice in the dressing room.

If he does leave this summer, then he says he will take a lot of fond memories with him.

"It has been a fantastic time for me up to now and it is not over yet," he said.

"We still have a week of training and it is gorgeous in the Hoffenheim area.

"On the field, we have been able to establish ourselves in the Bundesliga and I will certainly take away a great deal of emotions."

The 24-year-old has scored 13 times in 34 appearances for St Pauli this season, although that record was not quite enough to lead the Hamburg-based club back into the top flight after it missed out on a place in the play-off on goal difference to Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Nevertheless, former Werder Bremen player Kruse will be playing Bundesliga football next year after joining Freiburg.

"Max Kruse is a very dangerous attacking midfielder who has already some Bundesliga experience," said Freiburg's director of sport Dirk Dufner.

"To have managed to attract such a coveted young player to Freiburg shows that we remain an attractive destination for talented players."

Freiburg avoided relegation to the second division with a fine second half of the season under the guidance of Christian Streich, who equalled a club record for consecutive games unbeaten before losing to champion Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the season.

Hertha hosts Fortuna Dusseldorf in the first of a two-leg play-off to avoid relegation to the second division after finishing 16th in the Bundesliga.

Dusseldorf, who finished third in the 2. Bundesliga and is therefore bidding for promotion, needs to buck a trend which has seen the top-flight team prevail over its second-division opponent in each of the last two years.

But Rehhagel has warned that, even with that in mind, his side will have to be on its guard.

"We are the favourites, we have got to acknowledge that, but the favourites do not always win," he said.

Rehhagel learnt that in 1980 when he guided Fortuna to a 2-1 win over Cologne in the DFB-Pokal final to pick up the first piece of silverware of a coaching career which has spanned four decades.

"That was an extraordinary success," he said. "We beat Cologne in Gelsenkirchen's Parkstadion and we were the outsiders.

"Outsiders are always dangerous, but with our fans behind us, we will try to win tomorrow.

"We want Berlin to stay in the Bundesliga."

Over 60,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash at the Olympiastadion, which hosts the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday, and a full house is expected.

"We hope that the stadium will be full," said Hertha's general manager Michael Preetz, who started his playing career with Fortuna, providing another link between the two clubs.

"I was born in Dusseldorf and took my first steps in professional football there, and of course there are other links, but all of that should not play any role."

Fortuna coach Norbert Meier has praised his side for earning this opportunity to gain promotion and says it will go into the game free from any pressure.

"A huge weight dropped from our team on Sunday," he explained. "Before the season, we set the target of doing better than we did last season, and we have exceeded that.

"After the phenomenal first half of the season, hopes and expectations were aroused and there was more of a feeling that the team had to win rather than wanted to do so.

"That was a heavy burden for these lads, who were repeatedly able to release themselves from difficult situations."

Hertha is without Pierre Lasogga, who tore knee ligaments on the final day of the season, while Meier's choices are unchanged from a 2-2 draw with Duisburg at the weekend, a result which sealed their place in the play-off.

Adler, who is out of contract this northern summer, has already undergone a medical in Hamburg and is now set to negotiate personal terms, with the transfer expected to go through.

Talks between Hamburg and the player commenced in January but the club's board of directors, which has the final say on any player transfers, did not meet to discuss the issue until Wednesday, and it gave the club's director of sport Frank Arnesen a positive answer.

Accountants Ernst & Young have calculated for dpa that Munich earned $39.772 million compared to Dortmund's $36.18 million.

Ernst & Young sports expert Thomas Fuggenthaler said that Munich profits from the distribution criteria which is based on the past four seasons and also takes into account the club rankings at Europe's body UEFA.

Munich is more successful than Dortmund in both areas, having the overall better league results over the four years and done better in Europe as well by reaching the 2010 final and this year's as well, while Dortmund went out in the group stage of the 2011 UEFA Europa League and 2012 UEFA Champions League.

The German football league DFL dishes out some $486.49 million to the 18 top flight clubs, with a similar figure expected next season before a new TV deal from 2013 onwards generates almost 50 per cent more money.

The DFL does not release official figures on the club's TV income from domestic and international rights.

Schalke was third in the league and the latest money list with $34.56 million, while fourth-placed Moenchengladbach is only 11th in income with $25.63 million, according to Ernst & Young.

Augsburg managed to avoid relegation in its first Bundesliga season but is last as far as income is concerned with $17.40 million.

Munich is not only adding to its wealth from the German TV income, it is also raking in big money from the Champions League, assured of at least $64.35 million for reaching the May 20 final in its home stadium against Chelsea.

The 33-year-old joined Schalke 04 as its third goalkeeper in October 2011 when he was without a club, and has played six Bundesliga matches and five UEFA Europa League matches before picking up an elbow injury.

His career has stalled since 2007 and winning the Bundesliga title with Stuttgart.

He failed to break through at successive clubs - Spanish side Valencia, Sporting and Hoffenheim. His last national call-up was in 2006.

Schalke finished third in the league this season behind champion Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

It's reported that the clubs have agreed a transfer fee of $1.67 million for Kiyotake, and that the move will formally be announced in June.

Kiyotake, 22, would be the third new player for Nurnberg, who came 10th last season which ended over the weekend, following Tim Gebhart (VfB Stuttgart) and Noah Korczowski (Schalke).

The Germany international's move from Werder Bremen on a free transfer was hardly greeted by the Hoffenheim fans, who showed their backing for their current number one and vice-captain Tom Starke.

Wiese therefore has an immediate battle on his hands to convince the supporters that signing him was a good move, and he is hoping for sustainable success with his new club.

"I am really looking forward to meeting everybody here," he said.

"I was a fans' favourite in Bremen and I enjoyed their support. I want to earn that here too so that we can have success together."

Wiese also received an enquiry from Real Madrid before opting for Hoffenheim and he does not agree that the move is a step down in his career.

"This club has a future," said the 30-year-old in the Bild newspaper. "I am absolutely convinced that we can build something big here, otherwise I would not have come.

"Money is not everything. Look at Ralf Rangnick - he was ridiculed when he left Schalke in the Champions League to come here in the third division.

"But he had a vision and he wrote history here. I also have a vision and I want to play in Europe with Hoffenheim."

That could be as soon as 2013 as Wiese sets his sights on a top-six finish in his first season with the club.

"Hopefully we can do even better," he added. "We will play a good season - just look at the players who have been bought.

"(Eren) Derdiyok is a super striker, or (Matthieu) Delpierre, and then there is (Stephan) Schrock who had a fantastic season in the second division.

Buskens led Greuther Furth to its first promotion to the top flight this season, but was linked with a move back to his native North-Rhine Westphalia, where his family lives.

He was back in the area this weekend, prompting speculation he was negotiating with Cologne after its relegation to the second division but he told the Bild newspaper he is not interested.

"I am not available for the Cologne job," he stated.

Buskens' future at Furth is nevertheless unclear, given his desire to move closer to his family in the west of Germany.

He still has a year left to run on his contract with the Bavarian club who, over more than a decade of finishing just one or two positions behind the top teams was always just missing out, but he has yet to make up his mind whether he will join it in the top flight.

"It is something quite special for us to win the second division with Furth," he said at the weekend.

"I need a few days to gather my thoughts on what I will do and what will happen. I will make up my mind very soon."

Bayer Leverkusen is also understood to be monitoring the situation of the former Schalke caretaker-coach.

The 25-year-old is being investigated by the German Football Federation (DFB) after posting, "I don't know, I think the referee was on drugs," on his official Twitter account after being sent off over the weekend in the Bundesliga.

The Netherlands international was shown two yellow cards in the side's 3-1 defeat at Hertha Berlin, after a clash with the host's captain, Levan Kobiashvili, and made the remark about referee Thorsten Kinhoefer.

The DFB's disciplinary committee demanded a statement from Babel, who was also in trouble for a Twitter post while playing for Liverpool.

In January 2011, Babel was fined nearly $16000 after admitting a charge of improper conduct by the Football Association for posting a link to a mocked-up picture of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt.

In addition to sending the link to his followers, Babel wrote: "And they call him one of the best referees. That's a joke," after Webb sent off Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in a 1-0 FA Cup defeat to United.

Babel joined Hoffenheim from Liverpool later that month, but this latest episode will further strain relations with coach Markus Babbel, who dubbed the winger's actions "stupid" after he was sent off in Berlin.

The 31-year-old, who has one of the best records of all German goalkeepers over the past two years, said he can't imagine calling it a day, or joining another club, in two years.

"I feel far too fit and far too strong for that," he told Kicker magazine.

"Playing football has never felt so easy as it has from the moment I joined Dortmund."

Weidenfeller kept 14 clean sheets last season, 15 this campaign and has conceded just 43 goals over the past two years.

The Peruvian's contract expires at the end of June, after he activated an option to terminate his current deal a year early.

Bayern Munich was thought to be interested in its former player, whose delaying tactics must end, according to Allofs.

"I believe him when he says he has not yet made up his mind, but he has got to reach a decision now," Allofs told reporters in Bremen.

"We are not playing in the Europa League so he must be able to make up his mind in the very near future.

"It should not drag on for three or four weeks."

Pizarro ended the season on a high with two goals in Bremen's 3-2 defeat to Schalke at the weekend, but few others were celebrating inside the Weser Stadion.

"After this second half of the season, all you can say is 'thank God that's over'," said captain Clemens Fritz, who recently extended his contract.

And after the worst second half of a season in the club's history, with just 13 points in 17 games, changes can be expected in Bremen this summer.

Dusseldorf, who has not been in the top tier for 15 years, will travel to the capital for the first leg this week before hosting Hertha next week, with the winner playing in the Bundesliga and the loser in the second division next season.

It is the fourth year of the Bundesliga relegation play-off, with the second-division side gaining promotion only once, in 2009.

And Dusseldorf forward Sascha Rosler says Hertha will be expected to continue that trend.

"They are going to be two very difficult games," he said on Bundesliga.de.

"Hertha are clear favourites, but they have had problems this season, otherwise they would not have played such a bad season, and we have got to take advantage of that.

"We need to get into a good position in Berlin and then, with the fans behind us in the second leg, finish it off.

"We have got to give it all we have got. We were under so much pressure recently to finish third and now we can shake that off and play freely."

Hertha coach Otto Rehhagel was a spectator at the Dusseldorf Arena as the home side clinched third with a 2-2 draw against Duisburg, and he was given plenty to think about.

"It has got to be clear to us that these games will not be easy," he said.

"We have got to throw everything into the mixer once again."

The 20-year-old limped out of Sunday's 3-1 home win over 10-man Hoffenheim and the extent of the injury was only confirmed later.

Having finished 16th in the Bundesliga, Hertha hosts Fortuna at Berlin's Olympic Stadium in the first leg of its playoff for a place in Germany's top flight with the return leg in Duesseldorf on 15 May.

"I knew straight away that something was seriously wrong," said Lasogga.

"But I will be back, without question.

"Now the boys have to follow this through for me."

Hertha finished the Bundesliga season 16th after its dramatic win against Hoffenheim thanks to two goals from Tunisia midfielder Anis Ben-Hatira.

It gave it a lifeline after Cologne was relegated after a 4-1 defeat by Bayern Munich.

A 4-1 win at Nurnberg clinched fifth place in the Bundesliga and an automatic berth in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League next term, and Voller hailed the duo's contribution.

After taking over from Robin Dutt on April 1, Hyypia and Lewandowski guided the club to an unbeaten run of four wins and two draws from six matches.

"When you pick up points like that, then it is a positive argument," Voller was quoted as saying by Kicker magazine.

"And when you also see how the pair were accepted by the team, then you can imagine continuing with both of them."

Leverkusen has been in no rush to find a permanent successor for Dutt, but now the season is over and it knows what competitions it will be playing in next season, the search can start in earnest.

"It would be negligent of us not to consider other options," added Voller.

"We will now analyse things in depth."

Meanwhile, the future of Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle is also up for discussion, amid rumours of interest from Chelsea.

The Germany international told Sky that he had received no enquiry from the Blues, but hinted he would be open to a move to the English Premier League club, who signed his international team-mate Marko Marin last week.

"I and my agent have not had any contact so we will just have to wait," he said.

"We will see how interesting it is when it becomes concrete."

Two goals from Thomas Muller, a Pedro Geromel own goal and an Arjen Robben strike rendered Milivoje Novakovic's strike irrelevant as Hertha Berlin's 3-1 win over Hoffenheim meant Cologne finished second bottom.

Cologne went into the game knowing if it matched Hertha's result it would avoid automatic relegation but in the end it was the capital club which gave itself a second chance.

Anis Ben-Hatira opened the scoring before netting a second 14 minutes from time and, although Hoffenheim, which lost Ryan Babel to an early red card, pulled a goal back through Marvin Compper, Raffael sealed victory with the last kick of the game at the Olympiastadion.

It will now play the side which finishes third in the 2. Bundesliga, which will be either Fortuna Dusseldorf, Paderborn or St. Pauli, for the right to play in the top flight next term.

Borussia Dortmund celebrated winning its second successive title in style with a record-breaking 4-0 win over Freiburg.

Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski both grabbed a brace as Jurgen Klopp's men extended their unbeaten run to a record 28 matches in thrilling style.

The victory also took them to a new league record of 81 points from their 34 matches as they picked up the trophy in front of over 80,000 fans at the Westfalenstadion.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar bagged a brace to help third-placed Schalke end its season on a high after a 3-2 win at Werder Bremen.

Julian Draxler broke the deadlock for the visitor and Claudio Pizarro equalised with a penalty before Huntelaar netted his double, with Pizarro then pulling one back.

Schalke had already secured third place in the Bundesliga and a direct spot in the UEFA Champions League next season, but Huntelaar's 28th and 29th goals gave him the top scorer crown ahead of Bayern's Mario Gomez.

Marco Reus scored two goals and set up a third - scored by Igor de Camargo - in his final game for Borussia Monchengladbach as it claimed a 3-0 win at Mainz.

Only a year after almost suffering relegation, Gladbach finished the season fourth and qualified for the preliminary round of the Champions League.

Stefan Kiessling's hat-trick inspired Bayer Leverkusen as it secured automatic qualification for the UEFA Europa League with a convincing 4-1 win at Nurnberg.

Robert Mak had halved the deficit after Kiessling's double put the visitor 2-0 ahead, but Andre Schurrle restored the visitor's two-goal lead in the 77th minute and Kiessling completed his treble a minute from time.

Stuttgart booked a Europa League qualifying spot after scoring three goals in six second-half minutes to overturn a two-goal deficit and stun Wolfsburg 3-2.

Wolfsburg looked home and dry after 60 minutes thanks to goals from Patrick Helmes and Marco Russ, but Cacau pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute, Maza equalised four minutes later and Ibrahima Traore completed the comeback 11 minutes from time.

Hannover also qualified for Europe after it too came from behind to see off relegated Kaiserslautern 2-1.

Pierre De Wit gave the visitor a surprise early lead but Hannover hit back thanks to an own goal by Alexander Bugera and Didier Ya Konan's strike.

Augsburg celebrated its survival with a tight 1-0 win over Hamburg on the final day of their maiden year in the top flight.

On-loan forward Koo Ja-cheol scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute to seal the most successful season in Augsburg's history and condemn Hamburg to 15th - their worst season in their history.

The Netherlands winger had been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena this northern summer following reports of a dressing-room bust-up with team-mate Franck Ribery during the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was always adamant he would stay, though, and Bayern has now confirmed the 28-year-old has put pen to paper on a new deal.

Tuchel took charge of the club only days before it returned to the Bundesliga in 2009 after Jorn Andersen was dismissed.

In his first year, he led the team comfortably to safety before setting a new club record for consecutive wins at the start of last season, sealing a place in the Europa League despite a late slide down the table.

This year, he has saved Mainz from relegation again with several games to spare and his achievements have been rewarded with a new contract.

"The management of Mainz are offering me the opportunity to mould the identity of this club and, together with my coaching team, develop it continuously," said Tuchel on his club's website.

"We would like to establish Mainz as a sustained Bundesliga side.

"The feeling of being valued that I have had from the club and the fans in recent years is something special.

"Therefore, signing a new contract is just a logical consequence of this close, faithful cooperation."

Tuchel has even managed to emerge from the shadows of one of his predecessors Jurgen Klopp, now coach of Borussia Dortmund, who first brought Mainz back into the top flight in 2004.

"Thomas Tuchel is an absolute expert and, with the way he lives and breathes football, he is just the right coach for Mainz," said the club's general manager Christian Heidel.

"He is the most important piece in our puzzle for the future."

Tuchel's record as Mainz coach reads 39 wins, 27 draws and 35 defeats.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has agreed a four-year contract with the Bavarian club and will move for an undisclosed fee.

He will replace Philipp Wohlscheid, who will be joining Bayer Leverkusen.

Nurnberg general manager Martin Bader told the club's official website: "There are still a few formalities to clear up with Stuttgart, but the principle agreement is there."

Gebhart said: "Of course when you love football, you do follow your local clubs and I have been particularly impressed by the way Nurnberg have developed, especially with young, ambitious players.

"Therefore, I was honoured when Nurnberg approached me and I did not need to think for long.

"I can see a chance of playing regular football in a young team here."

Gebhart has already passed a medical in Nurnberg and will soon link up with Dieter Hecking's men.

His new coach is excited about the prospect of working with the 23-year-old next season.

"Timo has extraordinary qualities and he will do our team good going forwards," he said.

"We are delighted that another young player wants to come to Nurnberg to develop."

The 29-year-old's contract is up for renewal, but he has told club bosses in a meeting this week that he will not be signing a new deal.

"We had a final chat and we are going to part company," he told TV5.

Rosenberg is Bremen's second-best goalscorer this season with 10 goals in 32 games, six fewer than Claudio Pizarro, whose future also remains uncertain.

He joined Bremen in 2007 and has made a total of 122 appearances, spending most of last season on loan with Racing Santander.

Saturday's match with Schalke will now be his last for the club.

"It was a wonderful time for Markus, but unfortunately it is now ending," said his agent Martin Dahlin to the Bild newspaper.

"He will look for a new challenge and he has offers from within the Bundesliga and from abroad."

Hertha needs to beat Hoffenheim on Saturday to stand any chance of staying up, but with the prospect of an immediate return to the Second Division growing, Kraft has shown his commitment to the club.

"One thing is certain either way, I am very happy in Berlin and will be staying with Hertha and our super fans no matter what happens," he said on the club's website.

"I have agreed that with the club. I am absolutely convinced that we will win on Saturday and stay up."

Kraft joined Hertha from Bayern Munich at the start of the season and his show of commitment to the club has been welcomed by their director of sport Michael Preetz.

"We are very pleased that we will be continuing together with Thomas Kraft," he said.

Wiese's arrival had prompted murmurs of discontent from the Hoffenheim faithful in its last home game of the season against Nurnberg last weekend, but Hoffenheim coach Markus Babbel said he could not miss out on Germany's number two goalkeeper.

"We did not want to let the chance of getting such an experienced and successful goalkeeper slip away," he said on his club's website.

"Tim Wiese has made it into the national team and that pretty much says everything. I am convinced he will be a key factor in us reaching our goals."

Wiese will contend a place in the Hoffenheim goal next season with the club's vice-captain and fans' favourite Tom Starke.

Derdiyok arrives to fill the void left by the sale of Vedad Ibisevic to Stuttgart in January.

"Eren Derdiyok is a complete striker and he fits in perfectly with our concept," said Babbel.

"I am delighted we have been able to convince him to come."

The 23-year-old has scored 25 goals in 89 Bundesliga matches for Leverkusen since joining the club from Basle in 2009.

Dortmund confirmed the move on its website. The 27-year-old has signed a four-year contract with his new employers after an undisclosed fee was agreed.

Barrios said: "I want to thank the fans for their great support during the past three years. I will never forget my time at Borussia Dortmund and will always cherish it."

The Paraguay international joined Dortmund in 2009 from Chilean side Colo Colo and has helped it to back-to-back Bundesliga titles.

He has lost his regular place in the first team this season due to the emergence of Robert Lewandowski, but scored a hat-trick in Sunday's (AEST) 5-2 win at Kaiserslautern.

Chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke told Bild.de: "This is Lucas' decision. He wanted to begin a new adventure and we must allow him that.

"We have always dealt fairly with each other. It is clear that he wants to play regularly. He had great years here and we are indebted to him."

Jose Mourinho does not have a lot of competition for his number one shot-stopper, with Antonio Adan having made just three appearances since his promotion to the first team in 2009.

Wiese has spent his entire career in Germany and has been with Werder Bremen since 2005, making 27 appearances in the Bundesliga this season.

"There is some truth in that Real Madrid want to sign me," Wiese told the Kreiszeitung. "There was contact between the club and my agent."

Real may have some competition for the 30-year-old, who has been linked with Italian giant AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus as well as Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur.

Wiese admits he would relish a move abroad but will not be rushed into making a decision.

"Several factors come into play before making a decision, such as the family," he added. "I have to think about everything carefully. The option is to play in the big leagues."

Kuyt, 31, has a year to go on his current deal at Anfield but there is speculation he could leave the club in the off-season after six years in England.

Fink, who has steered Hamburg to Bundesliga safety after the club endured a dreadful start to the season, is a big admirer of the former Feyenoord man.

He told www.kicker.de: "He has class, and he is also a fighter. There is nothing more that needs to be said about the quality of this player. Whether this is something we feel we want to commit to, we will see."

Fink's comments follow similar sentiments from the club's technical director Frank Arnesen a couple of weeks ago.

"A player like Kuyt, who is still in good shape, can add something to any team," the Dane told Bild.

"He is a real team player with an excellent attitude."

The deal is finally out in the open as the Gunners and Cologne announced Podolski was moving to the Emirates Stadium after Euro 2012.

As well as being a shrewd signing on its own merits, Podolski's arrival could have arguably the more important knock-on effect of convincing Robin van Persie to commit his future to Arsenal this northern summer.

Manager Wenger, who admitted that the Gunners had been too reliant on Van Persie this season, said: "We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas Podolski and see him as an important part of our future.

"He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level.

"He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.

"We are happy to have made this signing early and we're looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championships over the (northern) summer, a level where he has already made 95 caps at the age of 26 - a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player."

Despite being feted as a world-class talent thanks both to his exploits on the international stage and for his hometown club, Podolski will have a point to prove at Arsenal after flopping in a three-year spell at Bayern Munich.

But he had no qualms about testing himself at another of Europe's giants, saying: "I'm so happy to be joining Arsenal Football Club and to play in the Premier League.

"Arsenal is one of the top clubs in Europe, with a huge history. There are many top-quality players at Arsenal and the style of football which the team plays is fantastic.

"I'm proud to become an Arsenal player and am looking forward to playing my first match at Emirates Stadium and doing my best for all the Arsenal fans."

Arsenal and Cologne waited to announce the deal to avoid impacting on the latter's Bundesliga relegation battle.

Podolski, who started his career at Cologne before rejoining it from Bayern in 2009, told their official website, fc-koeln.de: "The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a top European club.

"I have made this decision not against Cologne but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development.

"This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Cologne, our fans and the city are something special for me. I will always carry Cologne in my heart.

"We need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focused on our survival in the Bundesliga."

The Belgian, who is set for a place in Bayern's starting XI in the Champions League final due to the suspension of Holger Badstuber, has been with the club since 2006, although he has only made 13 appearances this season, the last of which came in January.

Since then, he has been sidelined with a broken toe, but he is now on the road to recovery.

He has played a total of 133 games for the Bundesliga club and can now expect to add more to that tally next season.

"We are pleased that Daniel will still be playing for Bayern Munich next season," said Bayern's director of sport Christian Nerlinger on his club's website.

"We know what we get with him. His qualities and experience will remain an important component of our squad in future."

The former Manchester City defender has won the league and cup double twice during his six years with Bayern and is set to take part in his second Champions League final against Chelsea on May 19.

The 26-year-old, who has 95 caps for the national team, will move to the Emirates for an undisclosed fee after both clubs and the player reached agreement over the deal.

Podolski told www.fc-koeln.de: "The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a top European club."

The 22-year-old, who made his Stuttgart debut in the Europa League last season, has spent the current campaign on loan at the Bavarian club, but is due to return to his employers in July.

Although injury sidelined him midway through the season, Didavi has been in excellent form recently to lift Nurnberg away from relegation danger and now he wants his stay there to be extended.

"I am not the kind of person who says 'goodbye, thank you'," he said.

"I have a lot to thank the club for, particularly (coach) Dieter Hecking and (general manager) Martin Bader.

"They have always stood by me and given me strength."

The 22-year-old is therefore hopeful the two clubs can reach an agreement that would enable him to stay in Nurnberg at least for another year.

"I would really like to play for Nurnberg next season," he added in Kicker magazine. "It is important for me to have a coach who believes in me."

Bayern's president Uli Hoeness has confirmed that negotiations with Robben over a new contract have broken down and the forward admits "recent developments" has led him to reconsider his situation at the Bundesliga club.

"Franck knows that he cannot do what he did," Robben told Kicker magazine.

"These are all things which are not positive and not pretty, therefore I need to consider everything really well.

"We will have to wait and see - there have been lots of recent developments."

Robben and Ribery are reported to have come to blows in the dressing room after a discussion over who should have taken a free-kick boiled over.

A gesture from Ribery towards Robben in the 2-1 win over Werder Bremen on the next weekend led the club to say the issue had been resolved, but Robben, whose contract with Bayern still has a year left to run on it, has admitted he is now considering his future.

"There are a few different options," he said.

"That is normal when you are at a top club and people know what I am capable of."

And Bayern appears to be becoming less of an attractive option by the day.

"I don't know exactly how things stand," admitted Hoeness.

"All I know is that he was just about to put pen to paper, and now that has all been postponed."

With Miroslav Klose rated as doubtful for this summer's tournament, Low may have to call on another striker who has not been part of his squads recently, and Helmes has emerged as a potential candidate.

However, the 28-year-old, whose last cap came in August 2010 when he scored in a 2-2 draw with Denmark, told NDR television that he is not building his hopes up.

"Three or four months ago, that was utopian, but now things are going well and there is a lot of speculation," he said.

"But that doesn't really interest me much. We will just see what the national team coach does."

Helmes was training with Wolfsburg's reserves before Christmas after his club's coach Felix Magath said he did not fit into his plans.

Magath even tried to sell the former Cologne striker in the winter, but reinstated him to his first-team squad a day after the transfer deadline passed.

Since then, Helmes has scored nine goals in nine games to help lift the Wolves into contention for a place in Europe next season, making him a candidate for the national team once again.

"I have had contact with the team manager and (assistant coach) Hansi Flick, which is positive," revealed Helmes.

"I know that I am rated highly there."

Borussia Monchengladbach striker Mike Hanke is also being linked with a return to the national team, although his form has dipped in recent weeks.

Klose's season is already over due to injury and doubts about whether he will be fit to play at all in Poland and Ukraine could lead to his exclusion from the 23-man squad.

"I am really worried," said Low in the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. "He has not played for weeks and has been injured for a long time, therefore we have got to see if we can get him back into the rhythm which is required for a tournament in just a few weeks."

The 73-year-old coach has seen his side pick up just eight points in 11 games since replacing Michael Skibbe in charge and he has acknowledged that the chances of his club remaining in the top flight are looking slim.

"We have got to win on Saturday and Cologne have got to lose, but I don't know if we will win," he said.

"We have not been playing at home the way I would have imagined it."

"But I think we have a small chance and we have got to take it. We have got to work on winning this game with the support of many fans."

Apart from a 1-0 win over Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin has lost its other four home matches and must now reverse that trend against a side coached by one of Rehhagel's predecessors Markus Babbel.

Babbel was forced out of the club in December after declining its offer of a new contract, and his controversial departure will make him even more desperate to win next weekend.

"I am 100% certain that Hertha would not have gone down if I were still coach," said Babbel to the Tagesspiegel am Sonntag newspaper.

"Everything was working excellently between the team and the coaching team."

A difference of opinion between Babbel and the club's director of sport Michael Preetz was the only problem, resulting in his premature departure, and Berlin has won just twice in 17 games since.

Benaglio arrived in Wolfsburg in 2007 and he still had over a year left to run on his previous deal, but he said he did not hesitate to commit himself to a new deal which will keep him with the 2009 Bundesliga champions until 2017.

"It is a great feeling to know that I am still needed here and that the club is counting on me," said the 28-year-old.

"Wolfsburg has become my home and I am very happy in the city and I think I am well looked after at this club."

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath is also delighted that he can rely on the shot-stopper in his ambitious plans to establish the club among Germany's elite.

"Diego Benaglio has achieved great things here, recently making a major contribution to us winning the German title," he said.

"We are really pleased that he would like to be part of our sporting development in the future too."

The club announced on its official website after the 4-0 Bundesliga win over Hertha Berlin that Farfan had put pen to paper on a new four-year deal.

Farfan turned down Schalke's initial approach late last year, but Royal Blues director of sport Horst Heldt revealed he had a change of heart a few weeks ago.

"We had always said that we were open to talks and about a fortnight ago there were the first signs of him coming back to the negotiating table, and we took advantage of that," Heldt told Sky television.

"We are very, very pleased that it has worked out because we always wanted to extend Jefferson's contract.

"In recent weeks, we have managed to get there with the support of the fans, who have always supported him, and this is important for the coming years."

Schalke's win secured its place in the UEFA Champions League group stage next season.

Dortmund is now just one point short of the current record of 79 points with one game remaining thanks to a hat-trick by Lucas Barrios (18, 26 and 55) and further goals by Mario Gotze (33) and Ivan Perisic (76).

Kaiserslautern replied through Pierre de Wit (49) and a first-half own goal by Felipe Santana.

Second-placed Bayern Munich showed no sign of a UEFA Champions League hangover as it saw off Stuttgart 2-0 at the Allianz Arena.

Former Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez put Bayern in front with his 26th goal of the season after 32 minutes and Thomas Muller added the second deep in stoppage time as Jupp Heynckes' side picked up where it left off after defeating Real Madrid on penalties in midweek to secure a place in the Champions League final.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored twice and set one up as Schalke 04 secured a direct spot in the Champions League with a comfortable 4-0 win over Hertha Berlin.

Huntelaar opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and Lewis Holtby made it 2-0 after 73 minutes. Raul struck with six minutes left before the Dutchman was on target again late on.

Hertha is second-bottom on 28 points but can still reach the relegation playoff spot as it lies two points behind Cologne, who lost 4-1 at Freiburg.

Mensur Mujdza gave Freiburg the lead in the 36th minute only for Lukas Podolski to level two minutes after the interval.

Karim Guede pushed Freiburg back ahead after 54 minutes, Daniel Caligiuri made it 3-1 in the 84th minute and Sebastian Freis ended all doubts a minute into stoppage time.

Bayer Leverkusen moved up to fifth, securing a place in the UEFA Europa League, after a 1-0 win over Hannover, whose own place in Europe will now be decided on the last day of the season.

Stefan Kiessling scored the all-important goal 15 minutes from the end to take Leverkusen into a position which would take it straight into the group stage of the Europa League next season.

Patrick Helmes scored twice as Wolfsburg remained alive for a spot in the Europa League with a 3-1 victory over Werder Bremen, which still has an outside chance of continental competition.

Hasan Salihamidzic opened the scoring for Wolfsburg after 40 minutes but Markus Rosenberg equalised for Bremen before the break.

Helmes scored in the 66th and 89th minutes to give the Wolves the victory.

Wolfsburg is now one point behind Hannover which occupy seventh, the final spot for Europa League qualification.

Tomas Pekhart scored twice as Nurnberg posted a fine 3-2 victory at Hoffenheim.

Pekhart gave Nurnberg the lead after nine minutes before Andreas Beck equalised in the 22nd minute.

The visitor went ahead again in the 45th minute through Daniel Didavi and Pekhart made it 3-1 after 71 minutes.

Edson Braafheid pulled a goal back late on but it was not enough to deny Nurnberg, which is now three points adrift of seventh place and still has faint European hopes.

At the other end of the standings, Augsburg secured its top-flight status thanks to a goalless draw at Borussia Monchengladbach, which clinched a place in the final qualifying round for the Champions League.

Hamburg also staved off the threat of relegation with a lacklustre goalless draw at home to Mainz.

The 35-year-old former Chelsea player is out of contract at Bayer Leverkusen when the season finishes on May 5, but is not guaranteed to play either at home to Hanover or at Nuremberg on the last day of the season.

He has said he wants to bury the hatchet with Lahm and Loew after his indignation in the wake of the 2010 World Cup.

Ballack was ruled out of South Africa 2010 with an ankle injury, but was later left bitter after he felt excluded from the German camp by Lahm and Loew during a brief visit to Africa during the tournament.

The day he left Africa, Lahm said he wanted to keep the captain's armband, increasing Ballack's indignation, and in June 2011 he was told by Loew he had no future in the Germany team.

Ballack then snubbed the offer of a farewell appearance against Brazil last August, leaving him with 98 appearances for his country in an international career spanning more than a decade.

But with Ballack tipped to finish his career in north America's MLS league next season, the midfielder is offering the peace pipe as his time in the Bundesliga draws to a close.

"In football, you should never say never," he told German sports channel Sport1.

"Time heals wounds. I can put everything into context."

"Certain things can be cleared up."

Loew has said he will speak to Ballack before Euro 2012 starts on June 8, but Ballack says everything can be cleared up with a simple handshake, which he said should have happened before.

"It always depends on how the person in question approaches you or how you do it," said Ballack.

"One could have found a solution in a different way. You will always cross paths, offer your hand and move on."

Ballack's charity needs to be put in context as his status in Germany has fallen sharply since leading his country at the 2006 World Cup, when it came third, and to the final of Euro 2008 final, when it lost to Spain in Vienna.

He crossed swords with Loew in October 2008 when he criticised the coach for not supporting his senior players enough after veteran Torsten Frings was dropped.

Loew had to call Ballack to a meeting in Frankfurt to resolve the matter and Ballack made his last appearance for Germany when he captained Argentina in March 2010 before he was struck by almost back-to-back injuries.

After his Chelsea contract was not renewed he returned to the Bundesliga in July 2010, but played two seasons for Leverkusen without holding down a regular first-team place.

He has made 33 Bundeliga appearances in two years and had a spat with the club after chairman Wolfgang Holzhaeuser said in January the experiment to bring him back to Germany had "failed".

With his contract set to expire in 2013, German daily Bild report the 23-year-old playmaker, whose 13 goals in 29 games helped Dortmund retain the Bundesliga title, has been given the deadline to sign a deal until 2016.

"The fact is that he has had an offer put in front of him long ago which raises a few doubts, because up until now he hasn't reacted," said Dortmund president Reinhard Rauball.

"It is a good offer! He won't be getting peanuts at Dortmund."

"There still hasn't been contact from another club. As far as I am concerned, nothing has been decided, although I now have a slight tendency towards scepticism."

According to Bild' sources, Kagawa has been offered a three-year deal at Old Trafford, worth around $7.5 million per season, and Dortmund risk losing him on a free transfer in a year's time.

Kagawa has been one of the Bundesliga's success stories this season having orchestrated Dortmund's surge to the title and was a bargain when he joined from J-League side Cerezo Osaka for just $444,000 in 2010.

The 32-year-old Croatian international has signed a two-year deal with Wolfsburg, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Thursday.

Olic has started in only three league matches for Bayern this season and says he's keen to leave to play regular first team football.

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said Olic's arrival would strengthen the squad, following a disappointing season in which the side will finish in mid-table.

"Ivica is a complete professional. The effort and running he puts in are exemplary," Magath said.

"He has always been a key player in a team. I am convinced he will increase the quality of our team."

Olic, who also played for Hertha Berlin and SV Hamburg, has scored 42 goals in 134 Bundesliga games.

Magath is also reported to be interested in signing Parma's Italy international Sebastian Giovinco.

Kicker magazine said Magath had met the 25-year-old attacking player's adviser to discuss a possible move.

Borussia had hoped to keep Dante but he has informed the director of sport Max Eberl he will be moving to Bayern.

Dante told the club website, www.borussia.de: "Bayern Munich are among the world's top three or four clubs. At Bayern I have the chance to play at the very highest level and win titles.

"I'm 28 now and this is a career step I'd like to take."

Dante revealed Monchengladbach had tried to persuade him to stay with the offer of a new contract.

"Borussia tried all they could to keep me and give me a new contract.

"I've been here for three and a half years now and I've had a wonderful time.

"For that I'd like to thank everyone at the club and the fantastic supporters.

"It hurts to leave but decisions like this are a part of every player's career."

Eberl admitted the club had been disappointed by Dante's decision but that they understood his choice.

He said: "Nevertheless we were hoping right to the end that Dante would opt to continue down the path he has taken here as a top player and crowd favourite and go on to write history in Monchengladbach.

"We understand his decision but we're obviously a touch disappointed."

Eberl was confident the club could find a replacement for Dante to link up with Martin Stranzl and Roel Brouwers.

"The situation hasn't caught us entirely unawares," he said.

"We want to have three excellent centre-backs again next season and I don't have any worries in that respect.

"We found Dante and so we'll find someone who can replace him as well."

Hertha needs to at least match the result of Cologne, which travels to Freiburg, to keep its hopes of avoiding relegation alive, otherwise Otto Rehhagel's side could follow Kaiserslautern down into the second division with a game still to be played.

To get it focused on the task, Rehhagel has whisked his side out of the capital for three days to a venue just up the road from the Arena AufSchalke.

"I still believe that we will avoid relegation," Hertha defender Maik Franz told the Berliner Morgenpost.

"We have realised that things have not been ideal in the second half of the season. Nevertheless, I feel that the character of the side is fine.

"We are going into a training camp to mobilise all of our strength and to pull even closer together."

While Hertha and Cologne are battling to avoid relegation, Kaiserslautern will play its last home game in the top flight on Saturday with champions Borussia Dortmund paying it a visit.

"We want to win back some of the pride and honour that we have lost," defender Mathias Abel told the club's website.

"We will all do whatever we can to beat the champions and at least give something back to our fans.

"We know that even a win will not be any consolation, but we would at least like to say goodbye with a win."

Augsburg and Hamburg could theoretically still be dragged into the bottom three, but they know that a win at Borussia Monchengladbach or at home to Mainz respectively would secure their place in the top flight with a game to spare.

At the other end of the table, with Dortmund securing the title last weekend and Bayern Munich guaranteed second place, the battle for third involves Schalke and Gladbach.

Behind them, Stuttgart can clinch fifth spot with a win at Bayern, assuming Bayer Leverkusen fails to beat Hannover, which in turn needs a win to secure its place in the Europa League.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen can both wave Europe goodbye without a win while Hoffenheim's outside chance of reaching the top seven depends on it beating Nurnberg at the Rhein-Neckar Arena.

Wiese's contract expires in the northern summer and he has already informed Bremen that he will be leaving.

Although Wiese has denied he had already agreed to join Hoffenheim, it is something Babbel would like to try and make happen.

"When Germany's number two is available on a free transfer and is on the market, then it is my duty to do all I can to complete a transfer and convince him that we play good football in Hoffenheim," he said on his club's website.

"He has a great deal of experience and has managed to play at a consistently high level, and he knows what it means to play in Europe too.

"I think he is an excellent goalkeeper."

Should Wiese arrive, he would probably replace fans' favourite Tom Starke between the posts and Babbel says he has already discussed such an eventuality with his vice-captain.

"He reacted very professionally," said Babbel. "That is just what I expected from him.

"One thing is clear - in professional football, you do have battles for places in every position and you have got to deal with that."

The 30-year-old has already announced that he will not be signing a new contract with the northern Germany club in July, making him a free agent.

And the Rhein-Neckar Zeitung newspaper claims 'from a reliable source' that he has given his word to Hoffenheim coach Markus Babbel that he will be joining it for next season.

Wiese has denied any such agreement, but confirmed Hoffenheim is a potential destination.

"I know that Markus Babbel is interested, but nothing has yet been signed," he told Sky Sport News.

"There is still plenty of time and I will listen to everything."

Wiese joined Bremen from Kaiserslautern in 2005 and has played 192 times for it, breaking into the national team set-up, where he was understudy for Manuel Neuer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Huntelaar was photographed fighting with team-mate Jermaine Jones in training on Saturday, and then scored as the Royal Blues drew 1-1 at Augsburg the next day only to be forgotten by his team-mates, according to German daily Bild.

The 28-year-old netted in the first half in Bavaria to make him the Bundesliga's top scorer alongside Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez.

But after answering a barrage of questions from waiting journalists, Huntelaar discovered the Schalke team bus had left without him en route to Munich airport, from where the squad was due to fly back to Gelsenkirchen.

Local police helped him link up with the team bus so he could catch the flight home, but he is not the first Bundesliga star to be left behind in Bavaria.

Last month, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan suffered a similar fate after scoring the winning goal in extra-time in the German Cup semi-final at Greuther Furth.

"Someone counted double," admitted Schalke goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall before captain Benedikt Hoewedes finally noticed Huntelaar was missing.

"On a day like that, it can happen," said Schalke's general manager Horst Heldt.

"It also happened to the champions," he added in reference to Guendogan with Schalke currently lying third in the Bundesliga table behind champion Dortmund and Bayern.

Spinner replaces Wolfgang Overath, who stepped down last November, although he has only been given a one-year mandate after receiving 91.4% of the vote at an extraordinary general meeting on Monday night (local time).

Club chairman Claus Horstmann welcomed the election, which will see Harald Schumacher and Markus Ritterbach act as vice-presidents.

"I am very grateful for this vote as it is a big chance for FC Cologne," he said.

Coach Frank Schafer also took to the podium to much applause from nearly 4,000 members as he vowed to do all he can to save the club from relegation.

Cologne is four points adrift of safety with two games of the season remaining, but Schafer is not giving up.

"I don't want to make any promises here as that would not be serious, but I do believe we will stay up," he is quoted as saying by his club's website.

"I had the feeling that Stuttgart came up against a brick wall on Saturday, and this wall was FC Cologne.

"This wall is very strong because it is united."

Two goals either side of half-time from Cameroon international Mohammadou Idrissou set the Eagles on their way and an own goal from Seyi Olajengbesi 18 minutes from time sealed the victory.

The win saw Eintracht climb to the top of the 2.Bundesliga standings, level on 68 points with Greuther Furth, which has already earned promotion.

Third-placed Fortuna Dusseldorf is eight points behind the leading pair with two games remaining.

Eintracht was relegated from the top flight last season after losing four of its last five matches to finish in 17th spot.

Otto Rehhagel is currently in charge of the Bundesliga strugglers, but the 73-year-old's short-term deal comes to an end at the end of the campaign.

Rangnick, who stepped down as coach of Schalke last September citing exhaustion syndrome, is reportedly keen to return to management, although he claimed formal negotiations with Hertha would not take place until it is known which division they are going to be playing in next term.

He told Kicker: "There is contact with Hertha, but, as long as it remains unclear how things will continue on a sporting and structural level, there is no point in holding discussions."

The capital club have plenty of work to do to stay in the top flight. They lie second bottom, two points behind Cologne in the relegation play-off place, with two games of the season left.

The Czech Republic international visited the nightclub with his girlfriend and team-mates after his side's 1-0 Bundesliga win in Hoffenheim.

The club said he was attacked by 'two violent men'.

Kadlec, who will have surgery on his nose on Monday, told www.bayer04.de: "I want to play on Saturday against Hannover with a face mask, if at all possible."

Bayer director of sport Rudi Voller told Sky television: "He (Michal) could do nothing about it, he is totally innocent.

"I am very disturbed by this. It is a kind of violence that I have never seen before.

"I have never heard of anything like this in 30 years."

Cologne confirmed both men were known to the club, although neither was a club member.

One of them was issued with a four-year nationwide stadium ban in 2010.

Cologne chief executive Claus Horstmann apologised to Bayer and Kadlec for the attack.

A statement on the club's official website read: "I learnt of the incident on Sunday and immediately contacted (Bayer chief executive) Wolfgang Holzhauser in order to apologise explicitly in the name of Cologne to Michal Kadlec and Bayer Leverkusen for this attack.

"We will also seek direct talks with Michal Kadlec so we can apologise to him personally and express our regret over this ugly incident.

"We are offering our help with the prosecution and will check promptly what legal options are available to us.

"It is not on that opposition players cannot move around freely in Cologne and that they are attacked just because they play football for a league rival

"We harshly condemn this act."

Sebastian Langkamp headed Augsburg in front in the sixth minute, but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar levelled for the Royal Blues before half-time.

The draw left Schalke two points ahead of fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach in the race for direct qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage next season.

Augsburg moved a point closer to survival, extending its cushion over third-bottom Cologne to four points with two games left.

In the day's other game, Freiburg guaranteed survival with a 0-0 draw at Hannover, which stayed seventh.

Although the result did not keep Bayern in the hunt for the Bundesliga title, which Borussia Dortmund sealed later in the day, it was nevertheless a good test of character for the Bavarians.

Heynckes fielded a weakened side with Thursday's (AEST) clash against Real in mind, but Franck Ribery sprang from the bench to score the winner in the last minute, earning particular praise from his coach.

"It is not easy to play every three or four days and that is why I rotated my side," he said.

"I am pleased with the engagement and the attitude of my team. The substitutions had a positive influence on the game.

"It was an important win for morale. We now travel to Madrid with confidence and optimism because we are always capable of scoring a goal away from home.

"I am optimistic and so too are my players."

There is not so much optimism in Bremen, though, after its sixth defeat since the turn of the year left its hopes of qualifying for Europe next season hanging by a thread.

And their coach Thomas Schaaf says he is sick of being asked about Europe.

"I couldn't care less," he told Sky television.

"Always these ridiculous questions - we have lost a game today and the simple fact that we have not won means the situation is no better.

"You can save your questions about the Europa League, we are just thinking from game to game."

The win ensured Dortmund takes an eight-point advantage into the last two games of the season and, according to Klopp, it was the perfect response to Bayern Munich's 2-1 win over Werder Bremen earlier in the day which had kept the title race open.

"That was the biggest challenge that any team I have coached has ever had to deal with," he said.

"There are no words to describe what these lads have achieved.

"They have such a good character, otherwise we would not be here with an eight-point cushion.

"To play such a game like today against such opponents is incredible and if there were ever deserved champions, then they are these guys here."

Kevin Grosskreutz said the celebrations will go on for days, although they will be ready for the next highlight of the season against Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final on 12 May.

"I am not coming back (to work) until Wednesday," he told Sky television.

"Germany cannot imagine how crazy things are going to be here and tonight in the city.

"Of course we will be fit for the final - we want to beat Bayern again there."

Sven Bender added: "Only one win separates us from the double and we will prepare ourselves well, but today we are permitted to think of other things."

Dortmund defeated Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 at Signal Iduna Park to become the first team since Bayern Munich in 2006 to retain the crown.

It was also the first time Bayern has gone two seasons without winning the title since Dortmund triumphed in successive years in 1995 and 1996.

"What the team has done, that's madness," Klopp, whose feats at Dortmund have made him one of the most highly-rated young coaches in European football, was quoted as saying by kicker.de

"There are no words for it. If there was ever a deserving champion, then we are it.

"My team has an extraordinary character. This is crazy what we have done."

After losing three of its opening six Bundesliga games of the season, Dortmund has not been beaten in the league since September.

Second-placed Bayern beat Werder Bremen earlier in the day to give Klopp's men the chance to clinch the title in front of their home fans, which they duly did thanks to goals from Ivan Perisic and Shinji Kagawa.

Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said: "The team played wonderfully today. I am pleased that Bayern won in Bremen, otherwise we would not have experienced this today. A perfect Saturday. To put in such a perfect performance shows the quality of the team."

Dortmund will now meet Bayern in the final of the DFB-Pokal as it looks to win the double for the first time.

Germany coach Joachim Low revealed his admiration for the Dortmund side.

"It is impressive that Borussia Dortmund have won the title for a second straight year with this young team," he said.

"My complements go to coach Jurgen Klopp, who has done excellent work. In general what impresses me at Dortmund is the unity at the club. Between coach, team, the board and fans there is a real cohesion."

Jurgen Klopp's side came into the match knowing a win would secure it the championship with two rounds to spare.

And it rose to the challenge, taking the lead after 23 minutes through Ivan Perisic, with Shinji Kagawa adding another in the 60th minute.

Dortmund began the day with an eight-point advantage over nearest rival Bayern Munich, which also needed a win in its earlier kick-off to keep alive its slim title hopes.

Franck Ribery scored a last-minute winner at Werder Bremen to earn Bayern a 2-1 victory, but Dortmund's later success meant its efforts were in vain.

Naldo's 51st-minute strike had put Werder ahead but the same player put through his own net 15 minutes from time to level things up, before Ribery had the final word.

Kaiserslautern claimed its first win in 21 games after seeing off 10-man Hertha Berlin 2-1, but it was not enough to save it from relegation.

Lautern went 2-0 up through goals from Oliver Kirch in the 27th minute and Andrew Wooten 11 minutes later.

Hertha pulled a goal back on the hour mark through Pieter Niemeyer, who was then sent off 13 minutes from time after collecting a second booking.

Third-bottom Cologne's draw with Stuttgart ultimately proved decisive, though, with Kaiserslautern seven points from safety and facing 2.Bundesliga football next season.

Cologne's point came in a 1-1 draw against Stuttgart, which extended its undefeated run to 10 matches.

Slawomir Peszko gave Cologne the lead after 50 minutes but Cacau equalised for the visitor in the 71st minute.

Bayer Leverkusen kept up the pressure on fifth-placed Stuttgart with a 1-0 win at Hoffenheim.

Andre Schurrle scored the only goal of the game in the 79th minute to earn Sami Hyypia's side all three points and practically secure its place in the UEFA Europa League next season.

Sejad Salihovic missed Hoffenheim's best chance from the penalty spot in the 86th minute as Markus Babbel's men lost ground on the top seven.

Nurnberg secured its Bundesliga status with two matches to play thanks to a 1-1 home draw against Hamburg.

Heung-Min Son gave HSV the lead in the 59th minute, only for Daniel Didavi to equalise five minutes later.

The pair is reported to have had a heated debate in the dressing room after discussing who should take a free-kick late in the first-half.

Sport Bild magazine claims Ribery punched Robben in the face and pictures appeared after the game of Robben with a cut under his right eye.

Today, the Bild newspaper claims Ribery has been fined 50,000 euros ($64,000) for the incident while the pair rarely exchanged glances, let alone passes, in Friday's final training session ahead of the trip to Werder Bremen.

Coach Jupp Heynckes was diplomatic when pressed on the matter at Friday's pre-match press conference, neither confirming nor denying the incident.

"There are taboo zones within a football team," he is quoted as saying by the Bild.

"Given the huge media presence, that is also necessary. I believe that internal matters must remain internal, whether that is here at our training ground or in the dressing room.

"Everything else is speculation and I will not respond to that."

Both Ribery and Robben are set to occupy the bench on Saturday as Heynckes rests his key players in view of the trip to Madrid next Wednesday.

Wolfsburg is three points away from a European spot, having played one more match than Bayer Leverkusen and Hannover.

Wolfsburg defender Alexander Madlung had a fierce free kick parried by goalkeeper Christian Wetklo in the second half, and teammate Mario Mandzukic narrowly missed the target with a volley from the edge of the box in the 88th minute.

Greuther Fuerth won promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time after drawing 1-1 at FSV Frankfurt.

The second-division leader has a 10 points lead over Paderborn in third place with two rounds remaining. The top two teams advance directly, with Eintracht Frankfurt also likely to return to the top tier.

Fuerth won three national titles before World War II but failed to qualify for the Bundesliga when it was founded in 1963.

The club merged with Vestenbergsgreuth in 1996 to become Greuther Fuerth, gained promotion to the second division and narrowly missed reaching the Bundesliga several times in the past decade.

The Dutchman, who will be 32 in the northern summer, has had fewer first-team opportunities this season and is being linked with a move at the end of the campaign.

Kuyt has a year left on his contract at Anfield and while former club Feyenoord is believed to be keen to take him back Arnesen has spoken publicly about the striker.

"A player like Kuyt, who is still in good shape, can add something to any team," he told Bild.

"He is a real team player with an excellent attitude."

There had been suggestions initial negotiations had taken place but Kuyt's agent said that was not the case.

"There have not been any talks with Arnesen or with someone else from HSV," he said.

"Would Kuyt be interested in a move to the Bundesliga? I can't say anything about that.

"A lot of clubs have made enquiries, but there's nothing concrete for now."

The pair, whose previous deals were up for renewal in the summer, have both been with the club since their arrival in the Bundesliga with Salihovic even joining the club while they were in the third division in 2006.

He would make it a decade of service by fulfilling the new deal which he signed on Friday.

"Weis and Salihovic are two cornerstones of our team," said coach Markus Babbel on his club's website.

"I am pleased that we have been able to convince them (to sign). They play a leading role in our plans.

"Furthermore, they both embody Hoffenheim in a small way and the fans identify with them, and that should not be forgotten."

Weis arrived one year later than Salihovic in 2007, helping them to promotion to the top flight in his first season with the club.

He has made a total of 101 appearances while Salihovic, who was suspended for two games earlier this season by Babbel due to indiscipline, has totalled 181 appearances, scoring 47 goals.

Dortmund plays the late match and if Bayern Munich fails to win earlier at Werder Bremen, Dortmund will be assured of its second consecutive championship before it kicks off at home.

Juergen Klopp's team is eight points ahead of Bayern with three matches to play.

Bayern is likely to be focusing on next week's return leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid, rather than worrying about a match in the Bundesliga where its title hopes are theoretical.

Dortmund defender Neven Subotic says his teammates are not doing the mathematics.

"We are only concentrating on winning. We want to grab the title on our own power. We want to offer the fans a spectacle. Our hunger for success hasn't gone away suddenly," Subotic said.

Dortmund is riding a record 25-match unbeaten run as it gets closer to the title. Last season, it also sealed the title on the 32nd matchday, then as the youngest side in the Bundesliga.

"We've gotten stronger. Each one of us has become better player. We run more, we are cleverer, we know how to save energy," Subotic said.

"And I can promise you, we have not reached our limit. We still have a young team."

One person who could delay title celebrations is Moenchengladbach's star forward Marco Reus, who will be playing for Dortmund next season.

"I don't feel any pressure, I am looking forward to the match because there is much at stake for us," Reus said.

"Dortmund is for me already champion but we want the points because we can still reach third place."

Moenchengladbach is one point behind Schalke and still hoping to clinch a direct spot in next season's Champions League, a remarkable feat for a team that barely escaped relegation last season.

Reus is one of the main reasons Moenchengladbach is that high in the standings and Subotic knows what kind of qualities his future teammate brings.

"It's a big challenge to play against him for every defender. He is like a rocket and I am very pleased that he is joining us. He's got great skills, he's incredibly fast," Subotic said.

Bayern travels to Bremen bolstered by its 2-1 win over Real in the home leg of the Champions League semi-final.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes could decide to rest his top stars as the team prepares for next Wednesday's return leg.

"Obviously Madrid is in the focus," Bayern's defender Holger Badstuber said.

"But we can't allow ourselves a bad performance in Bremen because we need a good dress rehearsal for Wednesday."

Bremen sits eighth and could still earn a place in the Europa League.

At the bottom of the standings, last-place Kaiserslautern visits Hertha Berlin, which is second-last and has eight points more.

A victory for Hertha sends Kaiserslautern down and improves its hopes of moving past Cologne, which has one point more but hosts surging Stuttgart.

Augsburg, four points ahead of Cologne, hosts Schalke on Sunday.

Mainz kicks off the action on Friday against Wolfsburg.

Hannover plays Freiburg on Sunday.

The 31-year-old defender has committed himself to the northern Germany club until 2014 after putting pen to paper on a new deal.

With Tim Wiese recently announcing his departure at the end of the season, Claudio Pizarro making himself available for transfer and with Naldo repeatedly expressing his desire to return to Brazil, Fritz's show of commitment will be welcomed by Bremen fans.

"Clemens is a real fixture at Werder Bremen – he is our captain and he also plays a bit role off the field," said Bremen's director of sport Klaus Allofs at a press conference.

"We are delighted to have been able to extend his contract."

Fritz, who is a candidate for the Germany squad for Euro 2012, insists signing a new deal was not a difficult decision to make.

"I am convinced this young side has a lot of potential," he said. "I am very happy in Bremen and I have held good talks with the management.

"Therefore, it was very easy for me to sign."

A statement on the Gelsenkirchen club's website confirmed that the 34-year-old, who joined from Real Madrid two years ago, has informed the club of his decision not to stay.

The forward is expected to explain his reasons at a press conference soon.

Raul quickly became a fans' favourite after scoring 13 goals in his debut season, including two hat-tricks.

He has added a further 14 goals this season to help take the Royal Blues to the brink of clinching a place in the Champions League next season, but after months of speculation regarding his future, the three-times Champions League winner has now made up his mind to leave the Bundesliga club.

Five players picked up knocks in the session, defender Jeffrey Bruma seemingly the most serious as he was taken back to the changing room on a golf buggy after suffering a blow to the knee.

Gojko Kacar, Robert Tesche, David Jarolim and Mladen Petric also picked up injuries.

"The risk of injury has become too high for me," Fink was quoted as saying by Hamburg's official website.

Hamburg is not yet safe from relegation from the Bundesliga. It is five points above the bottom three with three games to go.

The 41-year-old was discovered in the bathtub of his hotel room in Cologne by his assistant referees on 19 November last year, having slit his own wrists.

After his condition stabilised, Rafati was treated for depression in a hospital near Hannover, but while he will not return to refereeing in the Bundesliga, he revealed that he has made a full recovery.

"I am healthy again," he told the website of German daily Bild, 151 days after his suicide attempt. "I was in a seemingly hopeless situation.

"It was a stroke of luck that I got help in time. I am glad that I survived."

Rafati's suicide bid shocked Germany, two years after national goalkeeper Robert Enke took his life in November 2009 by throwing himself under a commuter train.

Rafati, who is of Iranian origin, says he is planning a three-week vacation in Asia with his girlfriend and is still receiving regular supervision from a depression specialist.

He says he is considering whether to return to his job in a bank and is planning to marry his girlfriend later this year.

Rafati spent six years as a Bundesliga referee, officiating 84 games in Germany's top flight, and was a FIFA-nominated referee between 2008 and 2011.

The second-division league leader is now all but assured of a place in the top two for promotion after rival Dusseldorf slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Dynamo Dresden.

Furth has been the second division's most consistent side for more than a decade, almost always finishing in the top half of the table and several times only narrowly missing out on promotion.

However the serial near misses - finishing fifth seven times since 2001 and fourth last season - had earned it the title 'unpromotable'.

"People were saying we don't want to get promoted, we're not capable of getting promoted. That's all over now," captain Thomas Kleine said.

With three matches remaining, Greuther Furth has 67 points, two ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt. Paderborn, on 58 points, could still draw level with Furth but has a vastly inferior goal difference of 31.

The Bavarian club, formed in 1903 as SpVgg Furth (Playing Association Furth), enjoyed some success in its early days, winning the then German league three times, in 1914, 1926 and 1929.

But it has never played in the top professional division since the Bundesliga's launch in 1963, and in the late 1980s had slid into a Bavarian district fourth tier amid heavy debts.

A merger with another local club in 1996, when it became known as SpVgg Greuther Furth, marked the start of a turnaround in fortunes.

"The promotion is sensational for the club and the city," said 44-year-old coach Mike Buskens, who played for Schalke and was twice interim coach for the Gelsenkirchen club.

A reception is planned for the team at the city hall on 29 April.

City mayor Thomas Jung said: "For the city of Furth promotion is the fulfilment of a dream."

Club general manager Rachid Azzouzi said the club would look to strengthen the squad for next season.

This season, Furth have already enjoyed some success against top-flight sides, beating local rivals Nurnberg and Hoffenheim in the German cup before losing 1-0 to league leader Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals to a late extra-time goal.

The deal starts in the 2013-2014 season and runs through to 2016-2017.

The league, or DFL, says it will bring in about 2.5 billion euros ($3.15 billion) in total.

That amounts to about 628 million euros ($792.32 million) per year on average, compared with 412 million euros ($519.81 million) per year at the moment.

Sky has also obtained internet broadcasting rights presently held by Telekom.

The DFL says the agreement will also allow ARD public television to keep the rights to broadcast highlights of Bundesliga matches.

DFL president Reinhard Rauball says the agreement is 'a quantum leap' for Bundesliga clubs.

However German football still trails some of the major European leagues, led by England's Premier League which has an estimated income from broadcasting rights of almost 1.3 billion euros ($1.64 billion) per season.

In Italy, the Serie A is receiving annual sums of between 817 to 841 million euros ($1.03 - $1.06 billion) per season for the next three season from pay TV alone.

Media rights are marketed individually in Spain, where the two top clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona earn about half of the total of 600 million euros ($756.9 million) a year.

In comparison, Germany's top earner Bayern Munich received a payout from the DFL last season of 29.96 million euros ($37.8 million).

The Greek defender has spent this season on loan with the Bundesliga club and Allofs has now confirmed that it has activated an option to sign him permanently.

"The contractual details have been resolved 100 percent and we have taken our option on him." Allofs told Radio Bremen.

"Sokratis will be playing for Werder Bremen in the coming years."

Sokratis has played a total of 29 games for Bremen this season and his commitment to the club is a boost at a time when several of its players have been linked with moves.

Goalkeeper Tim Wiese has already announced that he will not be extending his contract while Claudio Pizarro has turned down a contract extension and, along with unsettled defender Naldo, he seems set to leave the club.

A 0-0 draw with Hoffenheim on Sunday gave the Baden-Wurttemberg club a seven-point advantage over the bottom three, but, with three games of the season to go, Freis says it is all to play for.

"Looking at the table, mathematically everything is still possible," he said.

"We can still get sucked in down there so we are not going to celebrate yet."

Freis came closest to giving Freiburg a win that would have taken them to within a point of safety, but its destiny is in its own hands with a match against its nearest rivals to come.

"Of course we have to face Cologne, but we also have two tough away games in Hannover and Dortmund," he told Sky television.

"We should not underestimate our run-in."

Hoffenheim is still in the hunt for a place in Europe, meanwhile, with the point taking them to within three points of the top seven.

"We are happy with this point and now we will go into our final games looking to spring a surprise," its coach Markus Babbel said.

He received good news on Monday morning from his club's medical department with Roberto Firmino, who was carried off with a suspected broken ankle, being diagnosed with torn ligaments.

His campaign is over, but he will at least be fit for pre-season.

"We had feared the worst to start with, but it is frustrating enough that Roberto will not be able to help us for the final few games of the season," said Babbel on his club's website.

"What is more important, though, is that he recovers from this shock quickly and gets back on his feet soon."

That could be local rivals Fortuna Dusseldorf, but Schafer feels that is his team's best shot at staying in the top flight after Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach left it four points behind 15th-placed Augsburg with three games of the season remaining.

"We have got to concern ourselves with the play-off, which is an important option after this game," said Schafer, who took over from Stale Solbakken last week, but was unable to steady the ship in his first game in charge.

"It is going to be decisive that we don't collapse now."

Hertha Berlin is just one point adrift of Cologne in an automatic relegation berth and Schafer's priority is to keep them behind over the remaining three games.

"We have our destiny in our own hands," he added.

Gladbach coach Lucien Favre admitted his team's victory was a touch flattering, although he said they did enough to deserve the points.

"Three-nil sounds like a clear result, but it was not as easy as you would think," he said. "Two of our goals came from set-pieces.

"Nevertheless, it was a good performance and we fully deserved the win."

Dortmund is just one win away from clinching the league title for the second successive season, holding an eight-point advantage over Bayern with three matches remaining.

However, Hoeness has taken a swipe at its rivals, saying its record in European competition lets them down and prevents them from being regarded as a top side.

"They may have hungrier players, but they don't have any world class players," he said.

"Dortmund have played a super season, but they will only get honoured by me when they play a super season in the Bundesliga and in Europe too.

"Two years ago, they crashed out of the Europa League humiliated, and this year they did not even come third in a really easy group, but they came fourth.

"Only when they manage to harmonise these two things, and when they show that they can compete in Europe, then I will take my hat off to them."

Hoeness was also critical of Dortmund's claims to working on limited funds.

The Westphalian club narrowly avoided bankruptcy a decade ago, thanks in part to a loan from Hoeness, but the Bayern president thinks Dortmund is now playing on its previous financial problems.

"It is always the same old story - the rich Bayern here and the poor Dortmund there," said Hoeness on Sky television.

"Now they have extended the contract of (Mario) Gotze, bought (Marco) Reus, and (Robert) Lewandowski will follow. Let's just wait and see.

"The fairytales that (chief executive) Mr Hans-Joachim Watzke is telling, with his 45 million-euro ($56.6 million) wage bill, he can tell to anybody who doesn't have a clue about our business.

"We will see when their balance sheet is produced."

Watzke, however, says he cannot understand Hoeness' criticism and has nothing but respect for the Bayern president.

"I am not telling any fairytales," Watzke said. "Our figures are clearly transparent and Bayern's are now about three times higher.

"I am very surprised at how sensitively Mr Hoeness is reacting.

"Should we lose to Bayern on purpose next time only so he doesn't have to moan?

"I always speak highly of Bayern," he told the Bild newspaper.

"They have worked hard on all of their successes and Uli Hoeness deserves a great deal of the credit for that."

Juan Arango gave the Foals a 1-0 advantage at half-time and two goals in as many minutes from Tony Jantschke and Marco Reus sealed the win for Lucien Favre's side, taking it seven points clear of fifth-placed Stuttgart and to within a point of Schalke in third.

Cologne remains in serious relegation danger after failing to show any signs of life in Frank Schafer's first game as coach.

It is now four points adrift of safety and just a point ahead of Hertha Berlin, with both sides now likely to decide between them who goes down automatically and who gets a second chance in a play-off.

Freiburg needs just one more win to secure its Bundesliga status for another year after extending its unbeaten streak to seven games with a goalless draw against Hoffenheim.

Christian Streich's side played a confident game, but rarely posed a goalscoring threat while Hoffenheim appeared happy to take a draw which keeps it in the hunt for a place in the UEFA Europa League next season.

A dramatic 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen saw Berlin lose ground on Augsburg, who picked up all three points against Wolfsburg, but the veteran coach was pleased with his side's fighting spirit and optimistic for the final three games of the season.

"I am a bit disappointed because we could have won," he said.

"We should have scored on a counter-attack to make it 4-2, but unfortunately we failed to do so.

"And then, sadly, we conceded a goal. But the team showed sensational morale. The team fought like lions and showed that they are intact and have morale for the coming games.

"We are still in the race and will not give up."

Berlin was 2-0 behind before Pierre-Michel Lassogga and Tunay Torun came on and turned the game around, giving it a 3-2 lead which it let slip in the 84th minute.

"We fought back incredibly," said Lassogga, scorer of Berlin's first goal, to Sky television.

"We fought to get a point here at all costs and I am proud of the team and of myself that we fought in such a way."

A 2-1 win over Schalke in the 140th Revier derby allied to Bayern Munich's 0-0 draw with Mainz mean the Westphalians can clinch the title by beating Borussia Monchengladbach next weekend.

It may even be crowned champion before taking to the field at the Westfalenstadion if Bayern fail to pick up more than a point at Werder Bremen, but Klopp wants his side to remain focused on winning its last three games to crown an extraordinary campaign.

"Of course (winning the league) becomes more probable with this victory, but until we don't actually have any reason to pop the champagne corks, we will not do so," he said.

"Why should we think about anything other than picking up more points and, ideally, playing the best season of our lives, at least in terms of points.

"Then we will see if there is anything to celebrate."

Dortmund has not lost in 25 games and Klopp says that record is already a major achievement.

"It is crazy," he told Sky television. "To do that is not imaginable.

"In the end, we were a bit lucky to win today, but that is not so bad. When you have such a long series unbeaten, you cannot always thrash your opponents.

"Only two or three sides in the world can do that, but nobody in Germany. That is why I am absolutely satisfied today."

A 2-0 defeat to Nurnberg means the Red Devils will go down if Cologne pick up at least a point from its clash with Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday morning (AEST) and Kuntz says the players have not done enough to save the club from relegation.

"I have got to say honestly that this is emotionally the worst thing I have experienced up to now," he said.

"I have got to say that the way they played is not worthy of Kaiserslautern.

"Honesty, decency and professionalism are all values that you can expect from Kaiserslautern, but there was far too little of that today.

"I cannot see any anger, any motivation to fight with all that we have got."

Kuntz says the team will now be overhauled in a bid to return to the top flight at the first attempt.

"I don't know how long this current feeling will last when it all sinks in," he told Sky television.

"Then we will have to take decisions for the future and look for new players and tell one or two here that we have to part company.

"That is because we need a new beginning."

Coach Krassimir Balakov has not given up on his side staying up, however.

"I always have hope," he said. "I always have hope, but it's very difficult and a bit unrealistic.

"But as long as there is hope, we will try to fight."

Jefferson Farfan put the Royal Blues in front against the champion in the ninth minute, but Lukasz Piszczek levelled for Dortmund eight minutes later.

Sebastian Kehl sealed the visitor's win in the 63rd minute as it opened up a provisional nine-point advantage at the summit with three games remaining, and second-placed Bayern failed to cut the deficit back to six points in the evening kick-off as it was unable to break down Mainz.

Playing with a weakened side ahead of its midweek UEFA Champions League semi-final, first leg against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich looked out of sorts after its midweek defeat to Dortmund and could find no way past a defensive-minded Mainz.

Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha Berlin shared the spoils in a dramatic 3-3 draw at the BayArena, although the point hardly helped either side in their respective battles for Europe and to avoid relegation.

Berlin managed to turn around a two-goal deficit in a thrilling second half which also saw a missed penalty and a red card for Berlin's Levan Kobiashvili.

Andre Schurrle put Leverkusen in front just before the break and it seemed to be cruising to victory when Stefan Kiessling added a second in the 51st minute.

Pierre Lasogga reduced the arrears after an hour before Thomas Kraft saved Simon Rolfes' penalty after Kobiashvili saw red for a foul inside the area.

Two goals from Tunay Torun turned the game on its head with Berlin leading 3-2 until Kiessling snatched a point for Leverkusen in the 84th minute.

Nurnberg sent Kaiserslautern a step closer to relegation and gave itself a comfortable cushion over the bottom three with a 2-0 victory at the Betzenberg, Daniel Didavi and Tomas Pekhart the men on target.

Hamburg moved five points clear of the drop zone and seven away from automatic relegation thanks to a 1-0 win over Hannover, a 12th-minute goal from Heung Min-son proving the difference.

A late goal from Sebastian Langkamp earned Augsburg a precious 2-1 away win in Wolfsburg to take it four points clear of the drop zone.

Langkamp struck in the 88th minute after Patrick Helmes had equalised Torsten Oehrl's early opener for the Bavarian side.

"Slawomir was fined by his club and it should have stopped there," Lewandowski, who has questioned Smuda's tactical choices in the past, said in an interview with Polish daily Rzeczpospolita on Friday.

"It makes no sense to have axed him from our team."

Like Lewandowski, who is on course to win a second consecutive Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund, Peszko plays in Germany for struggler Cologne.

But while fan icon 'Lewangoalski' has this week topped the news for scoring the winner in Dortmund's 1-0 victory over second-placed Bayern Munich, Peszko has made headlines unwillingly.

He was detained by German police late last Saturday after a night out.

Lewandowski said he had spoken to his international team-mate about what happened and pinned the blame on the driver.

"I know what taxi drivers can be like in Germany and this one seems to have wanted to show he was the boss.

"My family have had trouble during taxi rides too," he added.

Peszko was fined and suspended by Cologne and issued a public apology but that failed to sway Smuda, who said he 'shook with rage' on learning of the incident.

"He won't be in my team. End of story," Smuda said earlier this week, underlining that he had given Peszko a second chance after drunken misbehaviour after a friendly against Australia in Poland in September 2010.

Lewandowski, who made his Poland debut in 2008 and is now 23, acknowledged that professional footballers had to watch themselves.

"You can't act the fool but you do need a break from training to think about something else. It has a good influence," he said.

"I go to parties but the art is knowing when you can."

Bundesliga-based Poles make up a major slice of Smuda's squad and the manager travelled to Germany this week to watch them in action, attending Dortmund's clash with Bayern.

Lewandowski said he took the opportunity to raise Peszko's case with Smuda.

"I told him that the circumstances of Peszko's arrest were bizarre. And one person, that taxi driver, shouldn't have a role in shaping Poland's team for the European Championship," he said.

"I hope that he'll reconsider his decision."

Poland captain and Dortmund midfielder Kuba Blaszczykowski has also said he hopes to change Smuda's mind.

EURO 2012 kicks off on 8 June in Warsaw and ends on 1 July in Kiev, capital of fellow host nation Ukraine.

Klopp led Dortmund to the title last season and the Westphalians are just two wins away from successfully defending their Bundesliga trophy, while they can then crown their season with a DFB-Pokal triumph next month.

The former Mainz coach recently signed a new contract until 2016 and Watke says there is no way that deal will be broken.

"We will be sticking to our agreements," Watzke told the Bild newspaper. "We have sworn an oath as friends.

"Klopp would not be available even for the Germany job, and we did discuss every eventuality during negotiations.

"Until 2016, there is nobody who can separate us."

Bayern Munich made enquiries about Klopp before he joined Dortmund four years ago and Watzke can understand Bayern's regret at that decision.

All he can advise Bayern president Uli Hoeness to do now is invest in his club by buying shares.

"People are making a good business out of them," he said. "It would not be a stupid idea for him to buy more Dortmund shares.

"He did buy a small amount back then (when the club was floated on the stock exchange), but he bought them at a bad time.

"The shares were a lot more expensive at floatation. Alone after our win over Bayern, 600,000 shares were traded.

"We are even going to suggest paying a dividend to our shareholders this year for the first time."

Martin Harnik scored twice against his former side as Stuttgart recovered from Markus Rosenberg's opening goal for the visitor in the 25th minute.

Stuttgart deservedly equalised 12 minutes later when Christian Gentner curled a fantastic strike from more than 20 metres inside the top right corner.

Harnik scored just before the interval and the Austrian striker claimed his 17th of the season eight minutes into the second half.

Cacau completed the scoring with a header in the 89th, as Stuttgart stretched its unbeaten run to nine games.

Werder remains eighth before the weekend's games.

Dortmund opened up a six-point gap at the summit with a 1-0 home win over nearest challenger Bayern Munich in midweek, and another victory over third-placed Schalke - the toughest looking of Borussia's four remaining fixtures - would leave the defending champion on the cusp of the title.

Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl admits it was a huge result to defeat Bayern, but insisted there is still work to do.

He told his club's website: "That was a very, very important step for us, of course. But we must not forget that we have another major game on Saturday, the Ruhr derby against Schalke.

"One thing is clear. We have not won anything yet this season."

If Dortmund, which has not lost in 24 Bundesliga matches, slips up in Gelsenkirchen then Bayern will hope to halve the deficit between the two clubs with a home victory over mid-table Mainz.

Bayern admits the title is now well within Dortmund's grip, though, with winger Arjen Robben saying after his side's defeat: "Dortmund have taken a huge step and we can almost say that they are champions."

At the other end of the table, Kaiserslautern is just one more defeat away from losing its top-flight status.

The Red Devils have not won since 22 October - a run of 20 games - and the appointment of Krassimir Balakov has failed to turn things around.

In fact, he has lost his three games in charge and not even a point against Nurnberg will be good enough to at least postpone its impending relegation to the second division after two seasons in the Bundesliga.

"We have got to be realistic," he told Sky television. "We know that we are close to the second division.

"Only theoretically do we have any chance of staying up and we will try to take this to the very last game of the season."

Second-bottom Hertha Berlin is also in desperate need of points as it travels to Bayer Leverkusen, while 16th-placed Cologne needs to win its local derby at Borussia Monchengladbach to have any chance of getting out of the bottom three this weekend.

Augsburg, in 15th, travels to Wolfsburg while Hamburg is the other club still in danger and it hosts Hannover.

Above the bottom five, Freiburg, Nurnberg and Mainz all edged away from trouble with wins in midweek and their Bundesliga status could be sealed with victories this weekend. Freiburg host Hoffenheim.

Elsewhere, the battle for a place in the UEFA Europa League intensifies with fifth-placed Stuttgart hosting eighth-placed Werder Bremen.

The two sides are separated by just four points with Leverkusen and Hannover sandwiched in between the pair.

Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim are also lurking just behind Bremen with this battle likely to go down to the wire.

A statement from Cologne revealed Solbakken had been given leave, and replaced by former boss Frank Schaefer, after the midweek 4-0 thumping at Mainz.

Defeat left Cologne, which has nosedived on the back of just one league win in 10 games, a point from safety with a tricky run-in that ends with the visit of Bayern Munich.

The decision to remove Solbakken has, however, infuriated the Norwegian boss who claimed that he had in fact been sacked.

"Yes, it's over. I've been sacked, but I can't say anything more than that," he told Norwegian station TV2.

"I can't say anything other than that I've been sacked and I'm furious."

Solbakken's claims were at odds with a statement from the club which indicated he had been placed on leave.

Schaefer will take charge ahead of what has become a crucial derby at UEFA Champions League-chasing Borussia Monchengladbach this weekend.

"With four rounds remaining in the season Frank Schaefer will, with immediate effect, take over training the first team until the end of the season," the club's statement read.

"He is already preparing them for the derby against Borussia Monchengladbach

"Stale Solbakken is on leave. This decision was made at a general meeting of the board and against the backdrop of the current situation."

Cologne chairman Werner Wolf claimed the board had been forced to act to try and preserve the club's four-year stay in the top flight.

"Avoiding the relegation of Cologne in this final sprint is the top priority," he said.

"With this in mind we must make a decision without any ifs or buts.

"After the game against Mainz the regrettable but inevitable decision to place Stale Solbakken on leave was made.

"For the sake of continuity we have turned to our former coach (Schaefer).

"Our team needs new impetus in their relegation battle. We thank Frank Schaefer for his willingness in this difficult period, and at such short notice, to take responsibility."

Schaefer, who will call on Dirk Lottner as his assistant, resigned as Cologne boss towards the end of the season with the club already on course for its 10th-placed finish.

Solbakken, who had been due to take over as Norway boss, was then recruited after Cologne reached an agreement with the Norwegian Football Association.

The 44-year-old's time in charge had been littered with off-field problems in recent months though with Miso Brecko arrested for drink-driving before Slawomir Peszko was this week suspended after being held in police custody after a late night out.

Last week Solbakken took his players away on a two-day camp to try and revive their fortunes, although he ruffled some feathers when he left the club's leading goalscorer for the past four seasons, Milivoje Novakovic, behind along with Kevin Pezzoni, Andrezinho and Petit.

Seeler, 75, told the Bild daily that the 4-0 humiliation at Hoffenheim was the latest indication that Hamburg is not fighting properly against the drop.

"I have no more hope if we continue like this. Not even a glimmer. This is simply pathetic," Seeler told Bild.

"All other relegation rivals are running and fighting. And what are we doing?"

Hamburg is the only club to have played every Bundesliga season since the top flight was inaugurated in 1963.

It is just two points above the danger zone with four matches left, having lost five of the last seven games and without a home victory in 2012.

Seeler spent his entire German playing career from 1954 until 1972 at Hamburg.

The 72-times capped forward is one of Germany's most popular footballers and an honorary national team captain.

Hamburg's current captain Heiko Westermann labelled the performance as 'a catastrophe'.

Coach Thorsten Fink said "I saw no fight against relegation from my team."