VfB Stuttgart secure UEFA Champions League football despite letting lead slip against Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Matchday 34, which sees Sebastian Hoeneß's side qualify for the UEFA Champions League and Frankfurt narrowly miss out on the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Eintracht Frankfurt 2–2 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Chema 10‘ (assist: Führich), 0-2 Nartey 45+4‘ (assist: Undav), 1-2 Burkardt 72‘ (pen.), 2-2 Burkardt 90+2‘ (pen.)
The final day of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season brought a high-stakes encounter at Deutsche Bank Park, with Frankfurt needing a win to keep alive their hopes of securing European football for a fifth consecutive season. Standing in their way were Stuttgart, who arrived in Frankfurt needing only a point — or a favourable set of results — to confirm their place in next season's UEFA Champions League.
Frankfurt head coach Albert Riera made three changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Rasmus Kristensen, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, and Mario Götze, while Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeneß named an unchanged side for the first time in the season. Ellyes Skhiri marked the occasion by making his 200th Bundesliga appearance.
Stuttgart strike early through Andrés
Frankfurt started the brighter of the two sides, with Arnaud Kalimuendo feeding Bahoya in the third minute, only for the winger to be denied by a fine save from Alexander Nübel. However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the tenth minute. Chris Führich swung in a deep corner to the far post, where Chema Andrés was on hand to head home from close range.
The goal was a blow for Frankfurt, who had been the more threatening side in the opening exchanges. Bahoya was then forced off through injury in the 17th minute, with Ansgar Knauff coming on as a replacement. Frankfurt continued to press, with Can Uzun going close after a brilliant solo run, but Nübel stood firm.
Nartey doubles Stuttgart's lead in stoppage time
As the first half drew to a close, Stuttgart struck again in devastating fashion. In the fourth minute of added time, Nübel launched a long goal kick which Deniz Undav held up before laying off to Führich. Führich found Undav again, who then played a precise pass across the face of goal for Nikolas Nartey to tap in at the far post.
The goal gave Stuttgart a commanding 2-0 lead at the interval, with Frankfurt having created chances but failing to convert. Skhiri had headed wide from a corner, and Uzun had struck the outside of the net, but the hosts had little to show for their efforts.
Frankfurt fight back through Burkardt's penalty
Frankfurt made a change at the break, with Farès Chaïbi replacing Kalimuendo. Stuttgart continued to threaten, with Zetterer producing a fine save to deny Andrés a second goal from a corner in the 59th minute. Riera then made a double substitution in the 60th minute, introducing Jonathan Burkardt and Mahmoud Dahoud for Uzun and Götze.
The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Nübel came to claim a cross but the ball ran loose, and the goalkeeper brought down Burkardt inside the area, conceding a penalty. Burkardt stepped up himself and sent Nübel the wrong way to reduce the deficit to 1-2.
Burkardt completes the comeback from the spot
Stuttgart made defensive substitutions in the 73rd minute, replacing Führich with Josha Vagnoman and Mittelstädt with Luca Jaquez. Timothy Chandler came on for Kristensen in the 80th minute as Frankfurt pushed for an equaliser. Burkardt went close with a long-range effort that flew just wide in the 78th minute.
With the clock ticking down, a second penalty was awarded in the 90th minute when Andrés handled the ball in the area. Burkardt stepped up once more and sent the ball high into the top corner to level the match at 2-2 in the second minute of added time. Despite a frantic finish, neither side could find a winner, and the match ended all square.
Man of the Match: Jonathan Burkardt
Jonathan Burkardt was the standout performer for Frankfurt, coming off the bench in the 60th minute and immediately making his presence felt. He won and converted both penalties that rescued a point for the hosts, sending Nübel the wrong way with his first and firing high into the top corner with his second. Burkardt was voted Man of the Match with 29 per cent of the vote, and his brace ensured Frankfurt did not suffer a home defeat on the final day.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Frankfurt 0.62 - Stuttgart 1.05
Fastest player: Ansgar Knauff (Frankfurt), 35.52 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-1 by Chema Andrés (Stuttgart), 37 percent
Most pressed player: Ritsu Dōan (Frankfurt), 20 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Chris Führich (Stuttgart), +7.16
Fantasy Heroes: Chris Führich (VfB Stuttgart, 258 Points), Nikolas Nartey (VfB Stuttgart, 248 Points), Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt, 237 Points)
