Leipzig down St. Pauli to clinch European spot
RB Leipzig defeated relegation threatened FC St. Pauli 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena to secure Champions League football for next season.
The visitors were the first to threaten with a big chance when Kaars smashed the crossbar with his 34th minute effort but fell behind at the stroke of half-time when Leipzig's Xaver Schlager opened the scoring.
Willi Orban added a decisive second goal just nine minutes into the second half shortly after Assan Ouedraogo's strike had hit the post just a minute earlier.
Abdoulie Ceesay pulled one back for St.Pauli but it was not enough as they remain 17th on the table while Leipzig secure third spot.
Olise strike helps Bayern edge Wolfsburg
Champions Bayern Munich overcame relegation threatened Wolfsburg 1-0 at the Volkswagen Arena.
The Wolves dominated the first half, creating plenty of chances but could not convert while Bavarians striker Harry Kane slipped and missed his first penalty with the club in the 36th minute.
Bayern took the lead in the 56th minute through Michael Olise's stunner after a strong start to the second half. Wolfsburg probed for an equalizer, with Svanberg hitting the post just before full-time.
The result sees Wolfsburg remain 16th on the table.
Stuttgart dispatch Leverkusen to boost European hopes
VfB Stuttgart came back from behind to beat fellow Champions League spot challengers Bayer Leverkusen at the MHP Arena.
The visitors took the lead in the first 40 seconds through Alex Garcia, but Ermedin Demirovic equalized in the fifth minute for Stuttgart.
Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba conceded a penalty late in the half, with Maximilian Mittelstadt converting from the spot.
Stuttgart striker Denis Undav added a third for the home side at the hour mark as they held for the win jumped above sixth placed Leverkusen into fourth spot on the table.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Augsburg boosted their chances of qualifying for European football following an impressive 3-1 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach at WWK Arena.
The result sees Augsburg move to ninth, just one point behind seventh placed SC Freiburg while Monchengladbach remain 11th.
At the PreZero Arena, Hoffenheim defeated ten-man Werder Bremen 1-0 to move up to fifth on the league table thanks to a Bazoumana Toure finish following a quickly taken corner kick.
The visitors never really threatened to get the equalizer after Yukinari Sugawara's fifth minute red card, with the result keeping them in 15th spot.
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe headline the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with the winner to be announced at the ceremony in London on October 26.
Bayern Munich are aiming high once again, with Konrad Laimer making it clear that the Champions League remains a major target as Vincent Kompany's side look to challenge for another trophy-filled season.
Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has confirmed that Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas are fit and available for Tuesday's Champions League opener against Villarreal.
Harry Kane admits he is "extremely proud" to be in contention for the Ballon d'Or after a record-breaking campaign that saw him score 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England.
