As another enthralling Bundesliga 2 season nears its end, with a captivating title race and an intriguing battle to avoid relegation still to be decided, bundesliga.com breaks down who achieved what and how on Matchday 31…
Automatic promotion and third place
With just six points separating the top six at the start of the weekend, nothing involving the top three places could be settled on Matchday 31.
There was just one point between leaders Cologne and second-placed Hamburg ahead of the matchday, and just four between HSV and Magdeburg in third.
Magdeburg’s 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin on Friday opened the door for Elversberg, Paderborn and Fortuna Düsseldorf to pounce but all three could also only manage draws, the first two between themselves. That trio of chasing clubs – plus Kaiserslatuern, who beat Schalke 2-1 – are still just one point back from third – it really is that tight!
This worked out well for the leading pair, who both stumbled, leaders Cologne 1-0 in Hannover and Hamburg 2-1 at home to Karlsruhe on Sunday afternoon. The Billy Goats remain a point in front of the Red Shorts, who are now just three points clear of Magdeburg in third.
Meanwhile, behind Kaiserslautern in seventh, we have Karlsruhe, Hannover and Nuremberg all still with a chance (albeit mainly mathematical) of a top-three finish.
Relegation
Jahn Regensburg could have been relegated on Matchday 31. A 1-1 draw against Eintracht Braunschweig saw them avoid that eventuality, but they remain six points shy of the relegation play-off spot with three matchdays remaining.
Ulm now occupy the play-off place of 16th after managing victory at Greuther Fürth, a result that moved them above Preußen Münster on goal-difference. Both sides are five behind Eintracht Braunschweig in the safety of 15th.
