RB Leipzig bid farewell to UEFA Champions League with defeat against Sturm Graz
RB Leipzig failed to add to their impressive Matchday 7 win against Sporting Lisbon, with Marco Rose's side ultimately losing out to Sturm Graz thanks to a solitary Arjan Malić goal.
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Sturm Graz 1-0 RB Leipzig Goals: 1-0 Malić 42’
Having rescued a point in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend, Leipzig were in Austria hoping to close out their Champions League campaign with three points and another morale-boosting display. The match started tentatively, with play frequently breaking down in the midfield. Christoph Baumgartner and Antonio Nusa were the standouts in a much-changed Leipzig XI in the first half. Nicolas Seiwald bombarded Graz with a flurry of corners and set-pieces, but none of them tested Kjell Scherpen in the Graz goal. The hosts grew into the game, seizing their biggest chance as Malić crept in at the back post to get on the end of a corner, breaking the deadlock from close range. Baumgartner and Lutsharel Geertruida combined minutes later as Leipzig looked to respond, but Scherpen saved Geertruida’s initial attempt, and his teammate sent the rebound over the bar.
The second half began much the same as the first ended; with Leipzig dominating possession but failing to make anything of it. Much of their play lacked its usual precision and sharpness, with the visitors opting to go long to Yussuf Poulsen all too frequently, to no avail. Things soon appeared to go from bad to worse for Leipzig, as William Bøving thought he had doubled the host’s advantage just after the hour mark. The attempt was disallowed by the VAR for a foul in the build-up, however. Rose made a flurry of changes inside five minutes to try and find a way back into the game, bringing on regular starters in David Raum, Xavi and Benjamin Šeško. Yet it was the Austrian side who played with bravery and attacking intent, creating chances at every opportunity. In the final ten minutes, Graz stood off their visitors, enduring prolonged spells of pressure, but their defence held. Beaten but unbowed, Die Roten Bullen will look to pick up in the Bundesliga when they face Union Berlin this weekend.
Match stats
Benjamin Šeško managed four Champions League goals this season, with only Christopher Nkunku scoring more in a single campaign for Leipzig (seven in 2021/22).
Three of Loïs Openda's five goals across 15 Champions League appearances for Leipzig have come on the road.
Leipzig went out of the Champions League without a single away win in the competition, losing at: Celtic, Inter Milan, Aston Villa and Sturm Graz. Hamburg were the last German team to lose more in a single campaign (five away defeats in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League).
Rose faced Graz nine times as Red Bull Salzburg coach, winning six (D1, L2).
Champions League League phase, Matchday 8 League phase, Matchday 8 Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
Full-time: Sturm Graz 1-0 RB Leipzig
It's disappointment for Leipzig as Marco Rose's side end their Champions League campaign with defeat in Austria. Leipzig couldn't find a way back into a game in which Arjan Malić netted as half-time approached. Die Roten Bullen's attentions now switch to the Bundesliga and Union Berlin this weekend.
Great running from Yalcouyé down the right gets Graz up the pitch. He cuts it back for Kiteishvili, who shoots first time, but his effort is over the bar.
90'
+ 2
Corner for Leipzig
Openda wins it down the left for the visitors. Xavi whips it in from the left, but it's straight into the hands of Scherpen.
90'
Four additional minutes
The referee confirms there will be four added minutes at the end of this half.
Graz's disallowed goal has not disheartened the hosts. Bøving drives down the left, before cutting in and shooting with his right, forcing a good save out of Vandevoordt.
66'
Triple change
Marco Rose makes a triple substitution. Can his changes turn things around for Leipzig?
Graz thought they'd doubled their advantage. A long ball up from the keeper is played to Jatta. He flicks it onto Bøving, who moves the ball onto his left and smashes home. After a lengthy VAR check, it's disallowed for a foul on Orbán by Jatta.
59'
Offside
Seiwald plays a ball over the top for Openda again. The Belgian tries a volley, completely miscuing his attempt. His blushes are saved by the assistant raising his flag.
55'
What a chance!
Seiwald plays a good ball into Openda, whose header eventually falls kindly for Baumgartner, but the Austrian smashes it well wide of the post from close range. The best two chances of the second half so far have fallen to him but Leipzig are yet to find a response.
53'
Baumgartner shoots
A long ball finds Geertruida, who cuts it back into the box from the byline. His target: Baumgartner, who shoots first time, but Scherpen gets down well to make the stop.
51'
Lavalée booked
The Graz man receives a yellow card for a challenge on Baumgartner.
Leipzig get the ball rolling again here in Austria. Both sides are unchanged.
Half-time: Sturm Graz 1-0 Leipzig
After a tentative start from both sides, Leipzig seemingly took control of the game after 10 minutes. They bombarded Graz with a flurry of corners and free-kicks but without ever really troubling Scherpen in goal. Graz grew into it as the half drew to a close and were the more clinical of the sides, taking the lead through Malić minutes before half-time with their best chance of the game so far. Leipzig may already be out of the competition, but Marco Rose will not be satisfied with the performance from his side.
Graz's goal has seemingly lifted the visitors. They have a quick counter-attack with Baumgartner playing it to his right and into the path of Geertruida. His effort is straight at Scherpen and Baumgartner hits the rebound over the bar.
44'
Malić breaks the deadlock!
The teenager gets his first Champions League goal on just his second start. A corner comes in from the right, it's flicked on at the near post towards the far, where Malić is waiting. He strikes the first attempt straight at Vandevoordt but he follows up the rebound to give Graz the lead.
Now it's the host's turn from the corner flag. It's taken short, with Kiteishvili attempting a one-two, but the initial pass is overhit and goes behind for a goal-kick.
34'
Another corner
Openda wins a corner down the left. Seiwald, as ever, takes; swinging it in with his right, but the ball is headed away from the front post by Graz.
30'
Yalcouyé shoots
The Graz midfielder receives the ball on the edge of the Leipzig box, opting to shoot. His effort is on-target, forcing the first save of the evening out of Vandevoordt, but the Leipzig keeper was never troubled.
27'
Seiwald takes...
...and Orbán gets on the end of it, but he can't generate enough power to trouble Scherpen.
26'
Free-kick
Openda wins a foul this time, just outside the Graz box. Baumgartner shoots, his effort deflecting off the wall and going behind for another corner.
22'
Crossing opportunity
Once again, Nusa beats his man and gets to the byline, where he lifts a cross into the box. Poulsen is the target, but he can't get a convincing contact on the ball.
19'
Nusa shoots
Scherpen punches a Leipzig cross to the edge of the box, where Nusa pounces on the loose ball and lets a shot fly. The keeper gets up well to make the save, tipping it behind for a corner. Leipzig can't make anything of the set-piece, though.
18'
Free-kick
Nusa draws a foul near the left flank in the middle of the Graz half. Seiwald whips it in towards the far post, where two Leipzig players are waiting, but neither can get anything on it.
16'
Seiwald takes
This time it's an out-swinger from the other side. Orbán has a free header, but he can't steer it goalwards.
14'
Corner
Baumgartner wins the first corner of the game down the left for Leipzig. Seiwald takes, swinging it in with his right. The keeper leaps to claim it, but it goes through his hands for another Leipzig corner.
12'
Overhit
Sturm Graz have a free-kick just inside Leipzig's half. Bøving takes, but it's well overhit, trickling behind for a goal-kick.
9'
Baumgartner goes through
Poulsen brings a high ball down well, using his physicality. He threads it through for Baumgartner, who stretches to try and get a shot away, but the keeper is alert to the danger, coming off his line to smother the ball.
7'
Well defended
Bøving makes a tackle high up and the ball breaks for him to run in on goal. Seiwald is across to cover, though, snuffing out the danger.
5'
Long throw-in
It comes into the box from the left, near the byline. Stanković wins the first header, flicking it on, but no one is there to seize the second ball and Leipzig clear.
3'
Offside
Geertruida whips a ball in towards the back post from the right. Poulsen is there, but he doesn't get a clean contact on it. The assistant had his flag raised, anyway.
1'
And we're off!
Hosts Sturm Graz get the ball rolling here in Austria.
Home soil
Both Seiwald and Baumgartner are in the starting XI for Leipzig tonight, meaning two Austrian internationals will face the champions of their home country.
More on that Sturm Graz team
For Jürgen Säumel's Graz, there are two changes to his side that lost 5-0 last time out in the competition. Geyrhoffer and Jatta come into the side, with Aiwu and Camara dropping to the bench.
For his final line-up for this European campaign, Marco Rose makes six changes to his side that drew 2-2 with Leverkusen at the weekend. Gulácsi, Raum, Klostermann, Xavi and Šeško all drop to the bench, whilst Kampl misses out due to a calf problem. In their places come Vandevoordt, Seiwald, Geertruida, Haidara, Baumgartner and Poulsen.
Benjamin Šeško has four Champions League goals this season, with only Christopher Nkunku having scored more in a single campaign for Leipzig (seven in 2021/22).
Graz have played 15 European matches at their home stadium and not a single one of them has ended in a draw; the record stands at seven wins and eight defeats.
Top striker gone
In the winter, Graz had to say goodbye to their best striker: Mika Biereth moved to AS Monaco in France. With two goals, he was Graz's top scorer in the Champions League this season.
The two clubs will be facing each other for the first time in a competitive match. RB Leipzig's previous record against Austrian clubs were against sister club FC Salzburg: two defeats (2:3 at home, 0:1 away) in the Europa League group stage in 2018/19. For their part, Sturm Graz earned their last – and only – Champions League win over a German side back in 1983.
"Overall, I see a team that has invested a lot into the new year, and that is really making steps forward. We want to try to bring that onto the pitch tomorrow and then carry it on back into the Bundesliga - of course we need results there."
"It will be a really cool task in front of our own fans against a top international team. We will need another very good day tomorrow if we want to keep up."
The hosts have an almost identical record to Leipzig, having lost six of their seven games up until now, winning the remaining one. They have a slightly worse goal difference however (-10), meaning they sit three places below Leipzig. Their only win of this season's campaign came against Spanish side Girona (1-0); Mika Biereth, who scored the winning goal in that game, has since left for Monaco.
The story so far: RB Leipzig
It has been a Champions League campaign to forget for Marco Rose's men, who have won just one of their seven games so far, losing the remaining six. Their sole win came last time out against Sporting Lisbon (2-1), with Benjamin Šeško and Yussuf Poulsen firing them to victory. Consequently, they won't be able to advance into the next stage of the tournament, but will aim to end with another victory.
Leipzig secured an impressive draw against Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 19, come from two goals down to secure a point and keep them in the hunt for fourth place.
Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of RB Leipzig's eighth and final game of the UEFA Champions League's 2024/25 league phase away at Sturm Graz on Wednesday, with all 18 fixtures being played simultaneously on the final matchday.
