Although top spot is still up for grabs, Hamburg secured promotion to the Bundesliga with a 6-1 win over Ulm that sealed the Sparrows’ relegation fate. Second-placed Cologne were victorious too and can still claim top spot, promotion, the play-off place – or slip to fourth! – on what promises to be a thrilling final day that could also see Eintracht Braunschweig complete an incredible escape act at the bottom.

Matchday 33 Results

Hamburg 6-1 Ulm
Goals: 0-1 Gaal 7, 1-1 Reis 10′, 2-1 Königsdörffer 42′, 3-1 Selke 45 ‘+4, 4-1 Stromf 49 ‘(upper floor), 5-1 Königsdörffer 62′, 6-1 Elfadli 86‘

After seven long years, Hamburg are back in the Bundesliga! Merlin Polzin’s men had a shaky start against a committed Ulm side battling for their Bundesliga 2 survival, but they hit back immediately and then hit the afterburners, scoring several goals of the utmost quality. While Hamburg are now assured of a top-two finish, Ulm are officially relegated and on their way down to the third division, their gutsy display in Hamburg not enough to stem the tide late on in what has been a complicated season for the Sparrows.

Nuremberg 1-2 Cologne
Goals: 1-0 Antiste 46 ‘, 1-1 Kainz 67 ‘, 1-2 Kainz 90 ‘

Cologne have automatic promotion in their own hands after coming from behind to beat Nuremberg thanks to a Florian Kainz brace. Luca Waldschmidt hit the woodwork almost midway through an entertaining first half, before Tim Janisch planted a presentable header over in Nuremberg’s best opening. Janis Antiste went one better to put the hosts ahead after the restart, but Cologne rallied as Kainz levelled with over an hour gone before scoring a 90th-minute winner. The Billy Goats will be promoted by taking a point against Kaiserslautern on the final day.

Hannover 1-1 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 0-1 Futkeu 33 ‘, 1-1 Neumann 87’

Hannover’s outside chances of promotion were ended in a dramatic finish as Phil Neumann’s stoppage-time effort was ruled out for offside. Neumann had already hauled his side level with three minutes to play but was denied a heroic winner by the VAR. Noel Futkeu had earlier put Greuther in front around the half hour mark when he powered home a header and it looked as though that would hand Fürth all three points until Neumann ’s equaliser. Fürth are just a point clear of the bottom three and face a nervy final day of the campaign as they aim to retain their Bundesliga 2 status.

Kaiserslautern 2-1 Darmstadt
Goals: 0-1 Marseiler 3’, 1-1 Ritter pen. 15′, 2-1 Ache 45’+7

Kaiserslautern will head into the final day with promotion still a possibility after coming from behind to bear Darmstadt on Sunday. Luca Marseiler had the visitors in front after just three minutes, a goal that brought Lautern to life as they soon pulled level through Marlon Ritter’s penalty. Ragnar Ache’s effort in first-half stoppage-time ended up clinching all three points for the hosts, who now travel to Cologne on Matchday 34 with just two points between them and third-placed Elversberg.

Regensburg vs. Karlsruhe
Goals: 0-1 Wanitz 4 ‘, 1-1 Bulic 17′, 1-2 Burnic, 2-2 Hottmann 66′

Although Karlsruhe were on the front foot for long stretches and twice took the lead against already relegated Regensburg, they couldn’t prevent their hosts from equalising twice and had to make do with a share of the points. While both Karlsruhe goals, through Wanitzek and Burnić, came from distance, both Jahn strikes – from Bukit and Hottmann – came from club specialty set pieces as Munier Raychouni’s side looked to give their fans something to smile about after a tough season.

Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-0 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Kownacki (57 ‘), 2-0 Van Brederode (78 ‘)

Düsseldorf have kept themselves in with a chance of making the top three on the back of a comfortable win over Schalke. The hosts thought they had made a perfect start when Myron van Brederode smashed in a half volley with barely a quarter of an hour gone, but the goal was ruled out on review for offside. Few chances of note followed until just before the hour mark when Dawid Kownacki powered in a header from a corner, sparking an emotional celebration following the recent death of his grandfather. The promotion chasers then got a second to put the game to bed when Van Brederode slid in to turn home a low cross. Fortuna will go into the final day two points off third place and the promotion play-off spot.

Elversberg 3-0 Eintracht Braunschweig
Goals: 1-0 ASLANI (11 ‘), 2-0 Opportunity (18 ‘), 3-0 Opportunity (21 ‘)

Hoping to keep pressure on their promotion push, Elversberg welcomed a Braunschweig side that couldn’t guarantee their safety no matter the result, after Münster won on Friday. A lightning-fast start for the visitors saw Fisnik Asllani and Muhammed Damar run riot, snatching a three-goal lead early in the first half. Down at the break, Eintracht didn’t mount any threat after the restart either, failing to register a single shot until after an hour had gone, allowing Elversberg to cruise to a comfortable victory and keep hold of third place going into the final weekend.

Paderborn 2-1 Magdeburg
Goals: 0-1 Candle (pen, 15 ‘), 1-1 Brackelmann (41’), 2-1 Götze (61 ‘)

An early Martijn Kaars penalty from gave the visitors’ promotion hopes a push in the right direction, giving them the lead in what was, until then, a relatively quiet half in terms of goalmouth action. It was Magdeburg who controlled much of the first 45 minutes in terms of possession too. However, a late wave of pressure from Paderborn saw them equalise through Calvin Brackelmann shortly before the break. That goal put the hosts back in the driving seat for possible promotion, as they returned to fourth. It was the visitors who again started the second half brightly, before Paderborn seized control and eventually took the lead through Felix Götze. They only grew in confidence from there, seeing out a win which puts them level on points with Elversberg in third.

Goals: 1-0 Hendrix (30’), 2-0 Hendrix (70’)
Red card: Govern (77 ‘)

A determined Preußen side welcomed an in-form Hertha unbeaten in their last seven. The hosts dominated the first half, taking the lead thanks to a spectacular back-heeled finish from Jorrit Hendrix. The hosts showed no signs of slowing after the restart, with Hendrix doubling the hosts’ lead midway through the half. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors after Linus Gechter was dismissed for a late challenge seven minutes later, allowing Preußen to claim a crucial three points in their bid for survival.