Jubilant Stuttgart players celebrate their qualification for the Champions League. © KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
Claiming the fourth position in the Bundesliga following their 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt this Saturday, May 16, Stuttgart has officially secured its place in next season’s prestigious Champions League.
With a hard-fought 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon in Frankfurt, Stuttgart concluded their Bundesliga campaign in fourth place, earning Germany’s final coveted spot in the upcoming Champions League. They join an elite group including champions Bayern (1st), Borussia Dortmund (2nd), and RB Leipzig (3rd).
Battling fierce competition from Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen for that crucial fourth-place finish, Stuttgart ultimately shared the points with Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite early strikes from Chema Andrès in the 10th minute and Nikolas Nartey just before halftime in the 45th+4 minute, Sebastian Hoeness’s squad saw their lead evaporate in the second half as Jonathan Burkhardt converted two penalties for the home side.
Amassing a total of 62 points, the Swabian club edged out Hoffenheim (61), who suffered a 4-0 defeat away at Mönchengladbach, and Bayer Leverkusen (59), held to a 1-1 draw at home by Hamburg. This remarkable achievement marks Stuttgart’s seventh qualification for Europe’s premier club competition, encompassing both the modern Champions League and its predecessor, the European Cup.
Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the Bundesliga standings, Heidenheim faced a 2-0 home defeat against Mainz, while St. Pauli also fell on their home turf, losing 3-1 to Wolfsburg. Both Heidenheim and St. Pauli, finishing with 29 points each, are consequently relegated to the second division. Wolfsburg, finishing 16th, will now face a crucial playoff match against the third-placed team from the second division, which could be Elversberg, Hannover, or Paderborn.
Already celebrating their 35th German championship title, Bayern Munich delivered a dominant 5-1 performance against Cologne. The Bavarian giants conclude their Bundesliga season with an astounding 122 goals scored, with Harry Kane contributing 36 of those in the league (and 59 across all competitions). Kane himself netted a superb hat-trick on Saturday, scoring in the 10th, 13th, and 69th minutes.
