Stuttgart clinches Bundesliga’s final Champions League berth in dramatic finish
In a nail-biting finale to the Bundesliga season, Stuttgart secured the fourth and final German spot for next year’s UEFA Champions League following a 2-2 draw against Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon. The result, combined with results elsewhere, confirmed Stuttgart’s position in the top four, ahead of Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen.
The match began brightly for Stuttgart, with Chema Andrès opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Midfielder Nikolas Nartey doubled the lead just before halftime, giving Stuttgart a commanding position. However, Frankfurt fought back with two penalties in the second half, converted by Jonathan Burkhardt, to level the game.
With 62 points, Stuttgart finished above Hoffenheim (61 points) and Leverkusen (59 points), who both dropped crucial points in their respective matches. This marks Stuttgart’s seventh Champions League qualification in club history, joining league winners Bayern Munich, runners-up Borussia Dortmund, and third-placed RB Leipzig in next season’s elite competition.
Who misses out on Europe?
The race for the final Champions League spot was fiercely contested, with Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen pushing Stuttgart all the way. Hoffenheim suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Leverkusen could only manage a 1-1 draw at home against Hamburg SV. Both clubs finished behind Stuttgart in the final standings.
At the bottom of the table, Heidenheim and St. Pauli were relegated after consecutive losses. Heidenheim fell 2-0 to Mainz, while St. Pauli lost 3-1 to Wolfsburg. With just 29 points each, both clubs will compete in the 2. Bundesliga next season.
Wolfsburg, who finished 16th, will face a relegation playoff against the third-placed team from the second division to determine their fate. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich capped off their dominant season with a 5-1 victory over 1. FC Köln, finishing with a league-high 122 goals scored, including a hat-trick from Harry Kane, who now has 36 goals in the league and 59 across all competitions.
As the dust settles on another thrilling Bundesliga campaign, Stuttgart’s players and fans can celebrate a memorable qualification, while the relegated clubs begin planning their return to the top flight.
