Outnumbered
Stuttgart scores a late equalizer in the race for the Champions League
Updated on May 2, 2026 – 6:01 p.mReading time: 4 minutes
In the race for the Champions League, VfB Stuttgart celebrates a late point win and remains in 4th place for the time being.
TSG Hoffenheim gave up a three-pointer against VfB Stuttgart and only conceded 3:3 (2:1) after conceding a late goal. This means that the Swabians and TSG remain level on points and the race for the Champions League is exciting. In a furious opening phase, many three goals. Andrej Kramarić (8th) gave Kraichgauer the lead before Chris Führich (20th) equalized and Bazoumana Touré put TSG in the lead again. After the break, Kramarić scored again (49′).
Ermedin Demirović (64th) shortened the score in between. Afterwards, VfB captain Atakan Karazor was thrown off the pitch. Despite being outnumbered, the Stuttgart team were rewarded with a goal from Tiago Tomás deep in stoppage time.
In the other games on Saturday, Hamburger SV won 2-1 in Frankfurt. FC Augsburg also celebrated an away win with a 3-1 win in Bremen. Cologne lost a 2-0 lead against Union Berlin and the game ultimately ended 2-2.
The TSG fans, who faced many more VfB supporters than the 3,000 in the away block, were already cheering loudly before kick-off: the 34-year-old Hoffenheim record goalscorer Kramarić announced in a short video message that he had extended his contract, which was due to expire in the summer. Just a few minutes later, the “club legend” (sports director Andreas Schicker) made it 1-0 (8th minute) – as if someone had directed it.
Chris Führich (20th) equalized for VfB before Bazoumana Touré (24th) put Hoffenheim back in the lead. In front of 30,150 spectators in the sold-out Sinsheim Stadium, Croatian international Kramarić scored his second goal and his 14th goal of the season (49th), before substitute Ermedin Demirović reduced the score to 2:3 (64th) – and Tomás still secured a point for the guests (90th + 6th).
VfB captain Atakan Karazor was shown a red card after kicking Fisnik Asllani in the heel (69′). The Austrian TSG coach Christian Ilzer spoke of a “final character” before the duel between the premier class contenders with the same points. What is certain is that fourth place guarantees participation in the Champions League and that Hoffenheim lost an advantage before the last two matchdays
