RB Leipzig secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over St. Pauli in the final matchday of the Bundesliga season, clinching third place and a direct spot in next season’s Champions League. The win came with late drama as the hosts held on through a nervous finale.
Just before halftime, Xaver Schlager poked home from a goalmouth scramble to give Leipzig the lead. Early in the second half, Willi Orban powered home a header from a corner to double the advantage to 2-0.
Relegation-threatened St. Pauli refused to surrender. In the 86th minute, Jackson Irvine delivered an uncommon long-distance header assist, allowing Abdoulie Cissé to pull one back and inject intense suspense into the closing stages. However, Leipzig weathered the storm to preserve the victory.
With the result, Leipzig secure an automatic berth in the Champions League group stage as the league’s third-placed finishers. For St. Pauli, still fighting to stay up, the loss deepens their predicament.