RB Leipzig secured a spot in the Champions League after a 2-1 win against St Pauli on Saturday, while VfB Stuttgart prevailed 3-1 to beat Bayer Leverkusen in the direct duel for a spot in the Bundesliga top four.
While Stuttgart moved up to fourth, Leverkusen dropped to sixth after being leapfrogged by Hoffenheim, who defeated 10-man Werder Bremen 1-0.
Last season, Leipzig missed Champions League qualification for the first time since 2017-18. This time they join champions Bayern Munich and second-placed Borussia Dortmund in top competition.
The dispute for the fourth and final spot will go down to the last matchday next weekend.
Stuttgart and Hoffenheim are tied on 61 points, with Leverkusen three points behind them.
Elsewhere, Augsburg still have chances of qualifying for the Conference Leauge after a 3-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Bayern visit relegation-threatened VfL Wolfsburg later, following their mid-week Champions League elimination after a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
