Stuttgart beat Freiburg 2-1 for the second time in less than five days yesterday to dent their rivals’ hopes of a Champions League spot after also dashing their dreams of a German Cup final appearance last week.
Goals from Christian Gentner and Vedad Ibisevic gave Stuttgart a 2-0 lead before Ivan Santini cut the deficit for the visitors in the 88th minute and set up a nervous finale as Freiburg desperately tried to get an equaliser.
Stuttgart beat Freiburg by the same score on Wednesday to clinch a spot in the German Cup final where they will face Bayern Munich.
Yesterday’s win lifted Stuttgart, who also hit the woodwork with Ibrahima Traore four minutes before the end, to 10th place on 39 points with four games left in the campaign.