Draw in season finale | OneFootball

Jonathan Burkardt came off the bench and scored two penalties as Eintracht fought back from 2-0 down against Stuttgart to draw 2-2 and end 2025/26 in eighth.

Three changes

Head coach Albert Riera reshuffled his pack in three positions for the final game of the season, with Mario Götze, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya and Rasmus Kristensen coming in for Arthur Theate, Farès Chaibi and Mo Dahoud, who all dropped to the bench. First chance goes Eintracht’s wayThe Eagles had the first opening of the game early on following a rapid counterattack. Ritsu Doan passed to Arnaud Kalimuendo, who swept the ball on to Jean-Matteo Bahoya as he arrived in the penalty area, but his low shot towards the right-hand post was well saved by Alexander Nübel (3’). At the other end of the pitch, Chris Führich fashioned a chance after dribbling into the Eintracht penalty box, but was thwarted by Michael Zetterer. 

Setback from a cornerStuttgart took the lead in the tenth minute when the Eintracht defence left Chema unmarked at a corner, allowing the Spaniard to head in the opening goal from four metres out. Early substitutionRiera was forced to make a change in the 17th minute following an injury to Bahoya, who was replaced by Ansgar Knauff. Chance for Uzun Eintracht nearly equalised five minutes after that when Götze played the ball to Uzun, who dribbled his way past the entire VfB defence, only to see his shot from six metres go the wrong side of the post via Nübel’s fingertips. Ellyes Skhiri had a chance just before the half-hour mark, but his header sailed narrowly wide (28’). 

Bitter blowThe away side doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Führich floated a cross into the box, which Deniz Undav cushioned first time for Nikolas Nartey, who powered an unstoppable shot past Zetterer. 

Zetterer alert, chance for ChaibiChema was given another sight of goal from a corner in the 59th minute, but this time his close-range header was blocked by a fine reflex save by Zetterer. Chaibi was likewise denied by the goalkeeper at the other end of the pitch after some fine work in the build-up from Doan.Burkardt pulls one backSubstitute Jonathan Burkardt reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute when he confidently converted from the penalty spot after being brought down inside the box by Nübel. The Eintracht forward very nearly equalised six minutes later, only to see his thumping volley from 16 metres whistle wide of the upright. 

Late levellerThe Eagles struggled to make an impact in the final third in the closing stages as the match began to peter out, in part because VfB were aware they had already clinched fourth place after learning of results elsewhere.

There was nevertheless some late drama after Riera’s men were awarded another penalty, this time for a handball by Chema. Burkardt smashed in his second spot-kick of the afternoon to make it 2-2 (90’+2), while Chaibi could even have won it two minutes later, but was denied by Nübel. 

The result, coupled with Freiburg’s victory and Augsburg’s defeat, means Eintracht end the 2025/26 Bundesliga season in eighth place.