Leipzig miss out on European football after being stunned at home by Stuttgart

RB Leipzig missed out on European qualification for the first time since their promotion to the Bundesliga after suffering a 2-3 loss to VfB Stuttgart on the final day of the 2024/25 season.

Leipzig needed to better Mainz 05’s result against Bayer 04 Leverkusen or overturn a sizeable goal difference deficit, and Zsolt Löw’s side made a promising start in front of their home fans as Kevin Kampl saw an effort from the edge of the box blocked inside the first minute.

The breakthrough came shortly after, with a stylish back-heeled finish from Xavi Simons seeing Die Roten Bullen rise into the top six.

Simons celebrates his goalČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Franziska Gora

However, Deniz Undav restored parity 15 minutes later with a thunderous header at the far post, an important blow to Leipzig’s hopes of European football that was exacerbated when news broke in the stands that Mainz had taken the lead in their game after twice being denied by VAR.

But Leipzig, looking to end a four-game winless run, fought back and restored their lead before HT when Ridle Baku powered a rebounded effort past Alexander Nübel.

Leipzig’s fate changed twice in the space of seconds in the second half when, almost immediately after Leverkusen levelled the score in Mainz, Nick Woltemade rose highest inside the box to power home Stuttgart’s second equaliser of the afternoon.

Leipzig celebrate their equaliserČTK / DPA / Jan Woitas

There was, mid-way through the second period, a brief eight-minute period in which a draw would have been enough for Leipzig, but their hopes were abruptly dashed when substitute Ermedin Demirović slotted a composed finish past Péter Gulácsi.

Loïs Openda thought he’d handed Leipzig a lifeline inside the final ten minutes with a tidy finish at the back post, though the goal was promptly disallowed for a push inside the box.

Match statsStatsperform

Ultimately, Stuttgart held on to pick up all three points, meaning Leipzig end up in seventh - their lowest finish in the German top flight. The Swabians, meanwhile, could yet earn a place in the UEFA Europa League with a win in next weekend’s DFB-Pokal final.

Flashscore Player of the Match: Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart)