VFB Stuttgart beats Leipzig in the Bundesliga in the last game of the season
Leipzig deservedly lost to Stuttgart 2-3. RB Leipzig had a flattering halftime lead against the previously better VfB due to their superior efficiency, but the Swabians remained the more active team and turned the tables after the break. The Saxons thus missed out on the Conference League, which a win would have made possible.
Leipzig coach Zsolt Löw surprised everyone with his personnel selection compared to the 0-0 draw at SV Werder Bremen : In the race for the Conference League with Mainz, who are level on points, the quintet Raum, Geertruida, Kampl, Gomis and Nusa played instead of Klostermann (yellow card suspension), Lukeba (abdominal muscle strain), Baumgartner, Sesko and Openda.
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß made four substitutions for the 4-0 win against FC Augsburg . He was forced to leave out Stiller (ankle ligament injury), and Stenzel, Jeltsch, and Führich were on the bench. Hendriks, Jaquez, Vagnoman, and Millot were substituted.
Woltemade unlucky, Xavi conjures
Geertruida’s misplaced pass gave Woltemade a huge chance to take the lead, which only the post prevented (6′). RB, however, immediately capitalized on their first opportunity; after a one-two with Baku, Xavi finished with a backheel with his back to goal (8′).
Undav almost scores a brace
The visitors searched for a response, had more possession, and even pulled off a few fine combinations: Undav’s curling shot after Woltemade’s backheel was brilliantly parried by Gulacsi (16′). But because the strong Swabians continued to play against the retreating Leipzig, the equalizer was as deserved as it was overdue: Undav nodded in from four meters after a Mittelstädt cross deflected off Baku (23′).
There was hardly anything from the Saxons in this phase, VfB had control of the game from then on and after Bitshiabu’s weak defense against Leweling, Undav had the next great chance – Seiwald saved happily (28′).
2:1 RB: Xavi and Baku again the protagonists
Löw’s men gained some ground in terms of possession after the half-hour mark, but without posing any threat – like Leweling on the other side (43′). In terms of efficiency, however, RB had nothing to complain about: Because Nübel failed to adequately clear Xavi’s curling shot from the danger zone, Baku pounced for a flattering 2-1 halftime lead (44′).
Woltemade completes his dozen
The second half started cautiously, before Stuttgart gradually gained momentum and further increased their chances through Undav – the German international fired a free header over the bar (52′). But because Woltemade was allowed to climb almost unchallenged after Mittelstädt’s corner, the center forward’s header made it 2-2 – his twelfth goal of the season for “Big Nick” (57′).
After the equalizer, the game took a break, with neither team able to create a promising opening in front of the opposing goal. Mainz trailed Leverkusen for a while, but then pulled level and overtook RB Leipzig – but the Saxons didn’t really produce much offensively.
Demirovic scores, Openda’s equalizer is conceded
VfB, on the other hand, struck again and turned the game around: After Geertruida’s bad pass, the Swabians combined via Undav to free substitute Demirovic, who remained ice-cold in front of Gulacsi (78′).
Now Löw also threw Openda into the mix, and this quickly seemed to pay off. The Belgian’s volley from a corner landed over the line – but the VAR canceled the goal due to a foul on Chabot (83′).
In the end, RB opened up its defense, and Gulacsi prevented a further deficit from being made further worse by Bruun Larsen (85th minute) and Karazor’s header, which he deflected onto the crossbar (86th minute). Leipzig, however, never got a decisive shot on goal anyway – the score remained 2-3, and thus the Saxons missed the chance to overtake Mainz (2-2 against Leverkusen) and qualify for European competition for the first time in their Bundesliga history.
While RB Leipzig’s season ends in seventh place after this match, with only a friendly match against FC Santos in Brazil (May 28) remaining, the Swabians still have the DFB Cup final ahead of them. On Saturday, May 24 (8 p.m.), VfB will face third-division promoted side Arminia Bielefeld.
