Stuttgart have clinched their Bundesliga spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League following a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon.
The Swabians finished fourth in the final standings, securing the final German berth behind Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. The result came after Stuttgart fought back from two goals down to salvage a crucial point in Frankfurt.
Narrow escape for Stuttgart in Frankfurt thriller
The match began at a frantic pace, with Stuttgart taking the lead through Chema Andrès in the 10th minute. Nikolas Nartey doubled their advantage just before half-time, making it 2-0 at the break. However, Eintracht Frankfurt responded in style in the second half, converting two penalties through Jonathan Burkhardt to level the score.
Despite the late drama, Stuttgart held firm to preserve their fourth-place finish. The draw meant they finished on 62 points, one clear of Hoffenheim, who were thrashed 4-0 by Borussia Mönchengladbach, and three ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Hamburg.
Top scorer Kane shines again as Bayern celebrate
While Stuttgart secured their European adventure, Bayern Munich capped off their season in style with a dominant 5-1 victory over Cologne. The Bavarians finished the campaign with a league-high 122 goals, largely thanks to a prolific Harry Kane, who netted a hat-trick to bring his tally to 36 league strikes and 59 across all competitions.
The result ensured Bayern wrapped up their 35th Bundesliga title in emphatic fashion, capping a season of dominance under their new-look squad.
Relegation drama in the lower reaches
At the opposite end of the table, Heidenheim saw their top-flight hopes dashed with a 2-0 loss to Mainz, while St. Pauli’s 3-1 defeat at home to Wolfsburg confirmed their relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. Wolfsburg, who finished 16th, will now face a playoff against the third-placed team from the second tier to determine their fate.