With both teams already eliminated going into the game, the lack of intensity in the opening exchanges wasn’t a surprise, but the visitors eventually started to dominate possession.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium however, with the best chance falling to Antonio Nusa who forced a great fingertip save from Kjell Scherpen but the offside flag would’ve denied the goal anyway.
The Austrian side did grow back into the game as the half wore on, and they managed to get the breakthrough minutes before half-time, when Maarten Vandevoordt showed great reflexes to deny Arjan Malic at the back post from a corner, only to see the ball fall kindly for the teenager to slam home his first European goal.
The visitors appeared to be revitalised after the break as they sought a quick reply, but Christoph Baumgartner slashed a great chance high and wide as the ball fell to him in the box.
That miss looked like it was punished just after the hour mark when William Bøving pounced to lash a loose ball into the back of the net, but a VAR review showed a clear foul in the buildup as Seedy Jatta wiped out Willi Orban with a flying elbow.
The German side had chances to find a leveller but Scherpen stood up to everything they could muster, but with nothing on the line the game ultimately fizzled out in the final stages and Die Schwoazn held on for the win.
Both teams will look back on a frustrating UCL campaign with Sturm Graz’s tepid goalscoring record of just five goals in eight games contributing to their downfall, while RB Leipzig never gave themselves a chance after recording a disastrous six consecutive defeats to start their campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kjell Scherpen (Sturm Graz)