VfB Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav scored a hat-trick as his side beat RB Leipzig 5-2 on Saturday to consolidate their third-place finish in the Bundesliga.
For Leipzig, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 next month, it would be their third consecutive league defeat and fourth Bundesliga triumph.
– ESPN Broadcast: LaLiga, Bundesliga, (USA)
Stuttgart are now third with 37 points and Leipzig fourth with 33, as is Borussia Dortmund, who face VfL Bochum on Sunday.
The hosts, missing top scorer Serhou Guirassy on international duty, were superior in the first half and scored twice in five minutes to take control.
Enzo Millot opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a well-executed penalty before Undav doubled their lead in the 30th minute.
But Leipzig, desperate for a third straight league defeat, pulled one back through Benjamin Sesko’s header in the 32nd minute.
Only three minutes after the restart Jamie Leweling, who had missed a golden chance on the stroke of halftime, made amends to restore Stuttgart’s two-goal cushion.
In-form Lois Openda’s superb effort and shot in the 55th put the visitors back in the game, but any hopes of a comeback were crushed seconds later when unmarked Undav headed in a cross to make it 4-2 in the 56th.
The striker completed his hat-trick a minute later on the rebound after goalkeeper Janis Blaswich blocked her first shot.