Momentum for cup final: Stuttgart wins in Leipzig

VfB Stuttgart gained the necessary momentum for the cup final with their first ever Bundesliga win in Leipzig. RB Leipzig recorded their worst Bundesliga season with a 2:3 (2:1) and just 51 points. They also failed to qualify for the Conference League in the long-distance duel with Mainz.

This was the first time in their young Bundesliga history that RB had failed to qualify for the European competition since their promotion in 2016, having last qualified for the Champions League seven times in eight years.

Xavi Simons (8th minute) and Ridle Baku (44th) put RB ahead in front of 47,800 spectators. First Deniz Undav (23) and then Nick Woltemade (57) equalized for Stuttgart. Substitute Ermedin Demirovic (78) gave VfB the 3-2 victory.

RB without Sesko and Openda

Internal coach Zsolt Löw played his last competitive match at RB before returning to the global group team led by Head of Global Soccer Jürgen Klopp. He set an example for the future with a revamped team featuring youngsters El-Chadaille Bitshiabu in central defense and Tidiam Gomis and Antonio Nusa as an attacking duo. Instead, he left Benjamin Sesko and Loïs Openda on the bench.

The first chance, however, fell to the visitors, who were without national team player Angelo Stiller (foot injury) a week before the DFB Cup final in Berlin against Arminia Bielefeld. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß also introduced four new players to the starting eleven.

Woltemade (6th) then missed the lead from eleven meters when he only hit the left post. Simons (8th) did better at the other end, crossing the ball over the line with his back to goal. RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi then prevented the equalizer after Undav (16) skilfully curled a shot from the half-left into the corner. Undav (23) then did better with his head after a cross from Maximilian Mittelstädt.

Stuttgart more courageous

The equalizer brought little momentum, however, and the game became rather flat with both teams slowing down. Leipzig were only dangerous when they switched gears. Like in the 44th minute: David Raum made quick work of Simons, who shot from the edge of the box on the left. VfB keeper Alexander Nübel is on the spot and deflects the ball forward, where Baku (44) pushes the ball over the line to make it 2:1.

As soon as the 1-1 draw in Mainz against Leverkusen, which would mean qualification for the European Cup, was announced in the stadium, Woltemade (57) scored with his head after Maximilian Mittelstädt had once again provided the groundwork. RB struggled to build up play, had few creative ideas and played a lot across and back instead of vertically. The Swabians were more courageous and rewarded themselves with the 3:2 through substitute Demirovic (78'), who scored from nine meters after a bad pass from Lutsharel Geertruida.

After that, things got heated. First Nübel saved a back-heel from Yussuf Poulsen (82'), then substitute Openda scored to make it 3:3 (83') - but the referee saw a foul beforehand. The result was VfB's first win at the seventh attempt.