Seventh-placed team in Bundesliga to also qualify for Europe
Stuttgart's Chema Andres and Stuttgart's Tiago Tomas (Top) celebrate after winning the German DFB Cup semifinal soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and SC Freiburg at MHPArena. Tom Weller/dpa The seventh-placed in the Bundesliga is guaranteed a spot in Europe after VfB Stuttgart reached the German Cup final with a 2-1 win against Freiburg on Thursday evening. Stuttgart are still bidding for a spot in the Champions League next season but they have at least a place secured in the Conference League through the Bundesliga standings.
Bayern Munich, the other German Cup finalist, have already clinched the Bundesliga title and therefore qualified for the Champions League. As a result, the Europa League spot that would otherwise go to the German Cup winner reverts to the league as extra qualification spot. This means that the fifth- and sixth-placed teams in the Bundesliga - currently Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen - will compete in the Europa League, while the seventh-placed team will play in the Conference League.
That spot is currently held by Freiburg. In general, the Bundesliga offer four Champions League spots, one in the Europa League and one spot in the Conference League.