Xaver Schlager couldn't hide his joy after RB Leipzig secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over St. Pauli, punching their ticket back to the Champions League. Goals from Schlager and Willi Orbán gave Die Roten Bullen a commanding 2-0 lead, but Abdoulie Ceesay's late strike set up a nail-biting finish. Leipzig held on, though, ensuring their return to Europe's elite competition after a one-season absence.

The night carried extra emotion for Schlager, who was making his final home appearance at the Red Bull Arena before leaving on a free transfer. The Austrian midfielder, who has spent four years in Saxony, opened the scoring in style and admitted the moment was bittersweet. "The most important thing is that we won today and secured Champions League qualification," he said after the match. "I'm over the moon because of that. It definitely wasn't an easy game—the first half was tough. With my goal, I took a bit of pressure off the team."

Schlager reflected on his time in Leipzig with gratitude, adding, "I'm taking a lot from Leipzig with me. I got to know some really great people and a wonderful city. I've also grown from a footballing perspective and have had good and bad times. It was a fantastic experience, but now I'm looking for a new adventure. First, I'll take a short break, then it'll be time to head to the World Cup."

Willi Orbán, who doubled Leipzig's lead, shared his relief after a grueling campaign. "We wanted to be back in Europe, and today we were the masters of our own destiny in terms of confirming Champions League qualification," the defender said. "It wasn't easy—it's been a long, intense season. But today, we got the job done."

Managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer praised the collective effort that made it all possible. "When you think about the situation we were in a year ago and what our task was, everyone would have taken securing qualification for the Champions League with one game to go," he noted. "Congratulations are in order—not just for the coaching staff and the team, but also for all the employees at the club. Everyone did their part."

For Leipzig, this victory marks a triumphant return to the Champions League stage, a testament to their resilience and determination after a challenging season.