The Bundesliga promotion chase is heating up heading into the final four games. - © DFL

Bundesliga 2 promotion race: St. Pauli steam ahead but Holstein Kiel and Fortuna Düsseldorf drop points

20.04.2024

St. Pauli are agonisingly close to confirming a long-awaited Bundesliga return, but dropped points for Kiel and Düsseldorf have made things interesting for the chasing pack...

St. Pauli
Position: 1st (automatic promotion)
Points: 63
Games played: 31
Goals: 57-33 (+24)

Pauli were unbeaten in a record-equalling 25 Bundesliga 2 matches, before defeats to Magdeburg and Schalke, either side of a barnstorming win over promotion rivals Kiel. However, victory against Hertha Berlin and Nuremberg meant the Boys in Brown went into the March international break 10 points clear of the promotion play-off spot. Fabian Hürzeler's side later suffered an unwelcome slip of two losses on the bounce but they came back with victories against Hannover and Hansa Rostock to retake the lead in the standings and ensure at least a promotion play-off place after Matchday 31.

Watch: St. Pauli 1-0 Hansa Rostock - highlights

Holstein Kiel
Position: 2nd (automatic promotion)
Points: 61
Games played: 31
Goals: 61-37 (+24)

The Storks appeared to be flying towards the Bundesliga yet a shock defeat against relegation-threatened Kaiserslautern in their latest game saw Marcel Rapp's side cede top spot to Pauli. Although a five-point cushion on third-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf should ease any Kiel concerns, a tricky set of remaining fixtures, that includes a game against the aforementioned Fortuna, will keep Die Störche on their toes from here on in.

Watch: Highlights of Kiel's 1-0 win over Hamburg on Matchday 30

Fortuna Düsseldorf
Position: 3rd (promotion play-off)
Points: 56
Games played: 31
Goals: 65-36 (+29)

Düsseldorf have been out of the top-flight ever since relegation in 2019/20, with last season's fourth-place finish their best attempt at promotion in the intervening three seasons. Daniel Thioune's team are having another good crack at it in 2023/24, yet having won six on the spin to heap the pressure on the top-two, Fortuna failed to take advantage of a rare Kiel slip-up on Matchday 31 by drawing away at lowly Schalke. That result helped Hamburg move back to within four points of third spot with three to play.

Watch: Fortuna earn statement MD25 win over Hamburg - highlights

Hamburg
Position: 4th
Points: 52
Games played: 31
Goals: 59-42 (+17)

Hamburg need a strong finish if they're to force their way back into the top three with three games remaining, and a morale-boosting 4-0 victory against Eintracht Braunschweig on Matchday 31 was the perfect start. A third successive play-off appearance will be tricky, especially with results having been inconsistent both before and after Steffen Baumgart's arrival. A monumental clash against local rivals St. Pauli on Friday could well prove a season-defining game for the Red Shorts.

Watch: HSV mounted an admirable fightback at Magdeburg on Matchday 29

Karlsruhe
Position: 5th
Points: 49
Games played: 31
Goals: 62-45 (+17)

An impressive win over leaders Pauli on Matchday 28 came amidst some admirable gatheirng momentum for Christian Eichner's side and although they dropped points against Paderborn, back-to-back wins over Hertha Berlin and now Nürnberg have kept Karlsruhe in with a chance. Automatic promotion is no longer on the table, but third place could be if they keep winning.

Watch: Karlsruhe stun St. Pauli