Fans of Cologne and Elversberg were left celebrating on the final day of the Bundesliga 2 season, with the former achieving automatic promotion, alongside Hamburg, and the latter sealing the coveted play-off spot ahead of three rivals. The battle for survival was just as dramatic, with Eintracht Braunschweig ending up in the relegation play-off zone.

Matchday 34 results

Cologne 4-0 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Martel 14′, 2-0 Waldschmidt 29 ‘, 3-0 Kainz 76 ‘, 4-0 Uth 87′

The Billy Goats are back in the Bundesliga! With everything from the title to fourth place still possible heading into the final day, Cologne made absolutely sure of Bundesliga promotion – and a fifth Bundesliga 2 title – with an emphatic 4-0 win over Kaiserslautern. Two-nil up at the break thanks to Eric Martel and Luca Waldschmidt, Cologne kept a tight grip on proceedings throughout the second half, adding goals from Florian Kainz and Mark Uth. Cologne’s next stop is the Bundesliga, while Kaiserslautern end the season in seventh place. (edited)

Karlsruhe 3-0 Paderborn

Goals: 0-1 Egloff 50′, 0-2 Egloff 54′, 0-3 Franke 72′

In fourth spot and trailing Elversberg only on goal difference ahead of kick-off, Paderborn seemed perfectly placed to take advantage of any slip-up above them. Yet, when Raphael Obermaier saw a first-half penalty saved, the hosts gained confidence. That boost in morale was converted into goals after the restart, Lilian Egloff scoring a quick-fire double – his first Bundesliga 2 goals – to leave Lukas Kwasniok’s side on the ropes. When Marcel Franke then added a third with just over 20 minutes remaining, Paderborn’s hopes for a play-off were extinguished, while Karlsruhe had a 400th win in the division to celebrate.

Magdeburg 4-2 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 0-1 Zimmerman 19’, 1-1 Hugonet 47 ‘ 2-1 Amaechi 60’, 3-1 Nollenberger 73’, 3-2 Jóhannesson 81 ‘, 4-2 Candle 90+2 ‘

Düsseldorf fans dreaming of seeing their side climb into the promotion play-off position on the final day were given an early boost as Matthias Zimmerman opened the scoring at Magdeburg, only for a second-half fightback to end in a 4-2 defeat. The result sees Magdeburg leapfrog their opponents into a fifth-place finish, level on points with Düsseldorf, who end up sixth. Given Elversberg also won, three points would not have been enough for Düsseldorf to make the play-off place anyway.

Greuther Fürth 3-2 Hamburg
Goals: 1-0 Klaus 41′, 1-1 Damped 50 ‘, 2-1 Klaus 57 ‘(Pen.), 3-1 Klaus 63”, 3-2 Glatzel 67 ‘(pen.)

Felix Klaus’ first career hat-trick prevented Hamburg from winning the Bundesliga 2 title as Fürth prevailed. HSV dominated possession early on, but Klaus opened the scoring shortly before half-time. Jean-Luc Dompé’s free-kick just after the break levelled things up again, but two Klaus goals in six minutes gave Fürth a buffer. Robert Glatzel did halve the deficit from the spot, yet despite late pressure, Hamburg could not get anything from the match. Therefore, they must make do only with promotion rather than the added bonus of silverware, while Fürth finish the season in 13th.

Schalke 1-2 Elversberg
Goals: 0-1 Fridays (20 ‘), 0-2 Neubauer (47‘), 1-2 Ben Balla (85 ‘)

In third place and aware that a slip up from Cologne could open the door to automatic promotion for the Saarlanders, Elversberg dared to dream after a spectacular first-half volley from Şahin flew into the net, before it was chalked off for offside. Minutes later, an equally special strike from Petkov opened the scoring. Up at the break, Elversberg returned for the second half just as confidently, doubling their advantage minutes after the restart thanks to a superb Neubauer volley. Ben Balla clawed back a late consolation for the Royal Blues, but the three points ensured Elversberg will face Heidenheim in the promotion play-offs.

Eintracht Braunschweig 1-4 Nuremberg

Goals: 0-1 10 ‘, 0-2 20 ‘, 0-3 Justvan 31 ‘, 0-4 45 ‘+1, 1-4 Polter 90 ‘

Eager to avoid a relegation play-off and seal automatic safety on the final day, Eintracht knew they needed at least a draw against Nuremberg and hope results elsewhere went their way. After just 10 minutes of this encounter at the Eintracht-Stadion, however, there was a sense of doom among home fans. Nuremberg’s Mahir Emreli arrived thirsty for goals and he was off the mark quickly with a tap-in. The Azerbaijan international doubled up soon afterwards and he would bag a first-half hat-trick after Julian Justvan scored with a spectacular free-kick from the right as Der Club finished their business early to ensure the hosts – who scored a last-minute consolation through Sebastian Polter – were play-off bound.

Ulm 2-2 Prussia Münster
Goals: 1-0 Telalovic 10 ‘, 1-1 Bouchama 54′, 2-1

Dying 75 ‘, 2-2 Röser 85’Preußen Münster avoided a relegation play-off as they drew at already-relegated Ulm. The hosts, looking to end their second-tier season on a high, started well and took the lead through Semir Telalović, who found the bottom corner during Ulm’s first real attack. Münster took their time getting into the match, but they equalised through substitute Yassine Bouchama before Daniel Kyeweraa completed the turnaround with around 15 minutes remaining. However, Lucas Röser restored parity late on, although it didn’t impact Münster’s survival. They finish 15th, while Ulm end up in 17th.

Hertha Berlin 1-1 Hannover
Goals: 0-1 Tresolddi 9 ‘, 1-1 Reese 37′

With little to play for other than pride on the final day of the season, Hannover looked sharp early on as they took the lead through Tresoldi. However, Hertha hit back through in-form striker Fabian Reese and took control of the match, with both sides fairly happy to play out a relatively uneventful draw. The club from the capital thus end the season in 11th while visitors Hannover finish in the top half of the table (ninth).

Darmstadt 3-1 Regensburg
Goals: 0-1 Wurm (8’), 1-1 Hornby (57‘), 2-1 Hornby (65‘), 3-1 Müller (90‘+4)

With both sides playing for pride, it was already-relegated Regensburg who took the lead at Darmstadt after the hosts had a Hornby goal disallowed for handball in the first minute. Young centre-back Wurm got his first ever second-division goal for Jahn, giving the bottom-of-the-league side something to cheer at the break. The Lillies reemerged in the second half with a point to prove, however, with Hornby grabbing his fourth brace of the season before Müller followed up the rebound from a missed penalty from Corredor to round off a final day win.