S04 Schalke Schalke - F95 Düsseldorf Fortuna Düsseldorf

A few commemorative photos are taken, with Schalke head coach Muslić at the centre of it all.

...but can they celebrate as well? Tonight will tell. At the moment things are looking promising.

The chant is loud and clear in the Nordkurve...

For Schalke, it was their twelfth home win of the season, with the Ruhr side winning seven of those by the narrowest of margins. But they won't care one bit about that today!

Overall, this is the club's fifth promotion to the Bundesliga after 1982, 1984, 1991 and 2022!

The players and the coaching staff line up and then rush together towards the stand.

The fans are celebrating, while the players on the pitch slowly pull on their specially made T-shirts – printed with the words: "Up we go, Schalke".

The players are embracing each other, and here and there a few tears are beginning to roll.

Džeko has a lot of space in front of him, but takes his time, experienced as he is. He then plays it on to Aouchiche, whose shot attempt is deflected by Oberdorf for another corner.

...but comes to nothing. Meanwhile, the board goes up for injury time: six minutes stand between Schalke and the Bundesliga!

Suddenly Schalke have a lot of space. El-Faouzi plays a composed pass out to the right to his captain, who falls over as he shoots and forces Kastenmeier into another brilliant save. Corner for for the hosts!

The striker has barely been involved in the game so far. The match is drawing to a close, and Düsseldorf are not exactly pushing for an equaliser at the moment. Are we about to see the Schalke celebrations begin?

The Schalke team doctors rush over. A few minutes ago he struck a ball on the volley, and since then, the defender has been limping slightly.

Kuruçay plays a free kick from his own half up to the edge of the opposition's penalty area. Sylla moves towards it, but so does the visiting goalkeeper, who clears with a header to the outside. Great piece of play all-round!

"Stand up if you're a Schalker", echoes through the stadium. It's not down to the fans – it's currently the players in royal blue who are struggling to create danger. At least they have now regained some control of the game after what was probably Düsseldorf's best spell of the match.

Will the Bosnian be Schalke's saviour? During this strong spell from Düsseldorf, a goal would do the hosts a world of good.

Aouchiche holds on to Appelkamp's shirt for a bit too long.

The match is picking up pace. Sylla wins the ball off an unconvincing Egouli and plays it to Ljubicic. However, he practically gifts Kastenmeier the ball by shooting far too centrally.

Schalke counter. Karaman drives forward at pace and, already having penetrated the box, beats Oberdorf on the left with two step-overs. Kastenmeier does not look set when Karaman takes his shot, but he makes a secure save at the second attempt.

For the first time in the second half, the Veltins-Arena gets really loud. After the corner is taken, Düsseldorf cannot clear the ball, and Schallenberg's attempted overhead kick then goes wide of the post.

Once again, Schalke play it quickly through the middle. Karaman wants to chip the ball centrally in front of goal to Sylla, but instead of the ball, he only catches goalkeeper Kastenmeier. Ittrich rules an offensive foul and gives a yellow card to the striker.

Kuruçay is able to continue playing for now and drops back into position at the back.

The defender has an uncomfortable clash with Itten, as both go into a sliding tackle for the ball. The Schalke player needs brief treatment and is left with a slight limp.

El-Faouzi delivers it from the right into the penalty area, where Karaman meets the ball with a header and sends it well wide of the goal.

The Schalke midfielder contested the most duels of all players, winning an outstanding 86 per cent of them, and also covered the most ground (6.4 km).

Schalke find some space and play it quickly forward. Ljubicic then receives the ball on the right and aims for the far corner with his subsequent shot. However, the ball goes well wide.

Schalke press high up the pitch, forcing an error in the visitors' build-up play. Ljubicic reacts quickly and wants to play Sylla in immediately, but a Düsseldorf player is alert to the danger.

The veteran forward has thereby set a new personal record for a league season.

The captain puts the hosts in front – and takes them one step closer to the Bundesliga! Düsseldorf build through the centre, El Azzouzi intercepts, turns through the centre and plays the ball on to Aouchiche. He plays it from the left into the middle, where a Düsseldorf player gets a touch on the ball. It then bounces up slightly as a result, but Karaman brings it under control brilliantly and fires it over Kastenmeier from the left half-space into the far corner!

Kuruçay wants to play a firm ball through the centre, but hits Ittrich square on. The referee returns the ball with a smile -Schalke now build up from the back.

Becker drives the ball forward down his right flank. After two more touches the ball finds Sylla, who is allowed to shoot unmarked on the right side of the penalty area. However, his attempt is too central and doesn't trouble the keeper.

Karaman's shot is blocked, but Schalke remain tenacious and win the ball straight back with Schallenberg. Aouchiche then shoots from the half-left channel, but Kastenmeier is on hand to make the save.

Karaman plays a strong ball through two Düsseldorf players, but there is just a bit too much power behind the pass. Sylla slides in and at least wins a corner which Fortuna are able to clear with a header.