Elversberg promoted to Bundesliga, Paderborn into play-offs

Elversberg secured promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time with a 3-0 win against Preussen Münster in the final matchday of the second division on Sunday.

Paderborn finished third and will face VfL Wolfsburg in the relegation/promotion play-offs for a chance to play in the top tier.

Champions Schalke had already clinched promotion earlier this month and will return to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2023.

Last season, Elversberg were on the verge of promotion but were defeated by Heidenheim in the play-offs. This time around, the club from the municipality of Spiesen-Elversberg finally achieved the Bundesliga dream, while Heidenheim were relegated after a 2-0 defeat to Mainz on Saturday.

Thanks to Bambasé Conté's effort and David Mokwa's brace, Elversberg are now the first club from Saarland in the Bundesliga in 33 years after Saarbrücken were relegated in 1993.

"It's hard to believe what's happening right now. This is a fever dream. I never would have imagined Harry Kane coming here to our locker room," forward Luca Schnellbacher said, already thinking about the clash against record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and their star striker Kane.

Paderborn, meanwhile, secured third place after a 2-0 win against Darmstad and will now bid to play in the top tier for the first time since 2020.

To achieve this goal they need to become the first team from the second division since Union Berlin in 2019 to win the relegation/promotion play-offs.

The fight for Bundesliga promotion was extremely tight. Elversberg, Paderborn and Hanover all entered the final matchday with 59 points.

Elversberg beat Paderborn for second place on goal difference, while Hanover's chances ended when Nuremberg equalized in the 83rd minute in a 3-3 draw.

Fortuna Düsseldorf and Münster were relegated to the third division, while Greuther Fürth will fight for survival in the play-offs against a team from the regional leagues.