(CNN) -- Ailing German champions Bayern Munich thrashed second-placed Bayer Leverkusen 5-1 on Sunday to boost the club's hopes of European Champions League football next season. Germany international striker Mario Gomez scored a first-half hat-trick for the 22-time Bundesliga winners in a victory which saw the Bavarians climb into the third and final qualifying position for Europe's premier club competition. The 25-year-old scored his treble between an early Simon Rolfes own-goal and a late strike from French winger Franck Ribery, with Switzerland striker Eren Derdiyok restoring some pride for Jupp Heynckes' team. Leverkusen, four-times German runners-up but not since 2002 when the club also lost in the Champions League final, could have closed to within two points of league leaders Borussia Dortmund.
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Bayern Munich beat title hopefuls Leverkusen 5-1 to move into third in the Bundesliga
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Bayern need to finish in the top three to qualify for next season's Champions League
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Germany striker Mario Gomez scores first-half hat-trick for the defending champions
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Borussia Dortmund go eight points clear of second-placed Leverkusen
Gomez claimed the match ball with his 22nd @placeholder goal this season in first-half stoppage time, before Derdiyok found the roof of the net for the visitors just past the hour mark.