RB Leipzig overcomes struggling St Pauli to clinch Champions League spot

RB Leipzig had a chance to wrap up a promising debut campaign for their new manager, starting strongly but inexplicably failing to score during an early chance in the eighth minute.

Yan Diomande found Christoph Baumgartner in the box, yet he and Brajan Gruda on the follow-up were both stopped from close range by Nikola Vasilj, with Ridle Baku then missing an empty net from barely a yard away after being flagged offside.

St Pauli gradually found their rhythm after that, nearly taking the lead themselves as Eric Smiths free kick curled narrowly past the post.

Alexander Blessins side posed a real danger on counter attacks, which should have resulted in the first goal when Andréas Hountondji set up Martijn Kaars, though he could only blast his shot against the bar.

The St Pauli striker was made to rue that effort, since right at the end of the first half Leipzig went ahead.

David Raums corner fell perfectly for Xaver Schlager near the six yard box, and the midfielder slotted it in off the crossbars underside in what was his last home match for the team.

This was a devastating blow for St Pauli, who were lucky not to go two goals down soon after the break.

Baumgartner played in Diomande, who then laid it off for Assan Ouédraogo, but the teenager could only hit the foot of the upright.

Shortly afterwards, another corner from Raum exposed the away team again as the unmarked Willi Orbán rose at the near post to direct a superb header into the opposite corner.

St Pauli looked like they might collapse following that, with Gruda having a goal disallowed for offside and Baumgartner firing high from a good spot.

Leipzig appeared in total control, yet Abdoulie Ceesay threw the outcome into question by breaking through the defence and coolly finishing to reduce the deficit.

This prevented RB Leipzig from securing just their second shutout in 14 Bundesliga fixtures, but they still managed a fifth straight win on home soil.

The loss hits St Pauli hard, extending their barren streak to nine games before their crucial upcoming meeting with 16th placed VfL Wolfsburg, whom they follow on goal difference despite having an extra match played.