RB Leipzig confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League with a 2-1 victory over St. Pauli at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday, thanks to goals from Xaver Schlager and Willi Orbán.
Schlager’s goal, scored in his final home appearance for Leipzig, and Orbán’s header secured the win for Ole Werner’s side, ensuring European football with one Bundesliga match remaining. Abdoulie Ceesay scored a late consolation for St. Pauli, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their defeat.
Leipzig began the match aggressively, dominating possession and creating early chances. Christoph Baumgartner forced a save from Nikola Vasilj within the first ten minutes, but the hosts couldn’t convert their early pressure into a goal. St. Pauli gradually grew into the game, but Leipzig eventually broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time.
A David Raum corner caused chaos in the St. Pauli penalty area, and Schlager reacted quickest to smash the loose ball into the top corner. The Austrian midfielder’s goal sparked celebrations at the Red Bull Arena, marking a fitting farewell to the club. Schlager joined Leipzig in 2021 from Wolfsburg and has become a key figure in midfield, making over 100 appearances for Die Roten Bullen.
Leipzig continued their momentum into the second half, extending their lead through captain Willi Orbán. Another Raum set-piece found Orbán, who guided a composed header into the far corner. Brajan Gruda had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after, but Leipzig’s two-goal cushion proved sufficient.
St. Pauli managed to pull one back late in the game through Abdoulie Ceesay, who finished a low shot beyond Maarten Vandevoordt. However, Leipzig defended resolutely during the closing stages to secure the victory. The result means Leipzig can no longer be overtaken for a Champions League spot.
For St. Pauli, the defeat extends their winless run to nine matches and leaves them in a precarious position in the relegation battle. They now sit inside the bottom two and face a crucial final day of the season. Leipzig’s win solidifies their status as a Champions League competitor, while St. Pauli face a fight for survival in the Bundesliga.
