RB Leipzig secured UEFA Champions League (UCL) football with a 1-1 draw against Arminia Bielefeld, who were unable to avoid relegation, even having taken four points from ‘Die Roten Bullen’ this term.
Bielefeld needed a near-miracle to even make the relegation play-off and controlled the ball early on. Despite this, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening quarter-hour, as Christopher Nkunku rounded Stefan Ortega before hitting the post from a tight angle. Angeliño then found his fellow wing-back, Benjamin Henrichs, with an inviting pass before the latter hit his shot over. As the visitors turned up the pressure shortly after the half-hour mark, Nkunku was denied by Ortega before André Silva sent a wild effort high and wide.
Janni Serra got a powerful header off at the other end with moments to go until HT, though it eventually went wide. There was a blow for ‘Die Arminen’, as Patrick Wimmer had to be replaced during the break after sustaining an injury in what will be his last game for the club. Like the first half, the second period’s first notable opportunity fell to Nkunku, who hit an uncharacteristically tame shot straight into the arms of Ortega.
Substitute Burak Ince had an attempt at the other end, but Péter Gulácsi was equal to the shot from a difficult position. The game had been far from a classic, but Bielefeld got themselves ahead in the 70th minute, as Serra ensured the ball went over the line after Gulácsi got a hand to Robin Hack’s shot. Having been involved, Masaya Okugawa could have scored a second moments later but slid his shot marginally wide.
Despite Arminia’s resolute defending, Willi Orbán clinically met Dominik Szoboszlai’s free kick to equalise in the 93rd minute, making sure of the visitors’ UCL place despite having won once in their last four across all competitions ahead of their upcoming DFB-Pokal final. This cruelly extended Arminia’s winless run to 11 matches as they were relegated to 2. Bundesliga.
