The 2025/26 Bundesliga 2 promotion race: Schalke and Elversberg up, Paderborn clinch play-off berth
As always seems to be the case in Bundesliga 2, there was once again little to choose between the sides jostling for position near the top of the table as they battled it out on the final matchday for promotion to the big time.
Schalke confirmed their spot in the top flight for 2026/27 as Bundesliga 2 champions on Matchday 32, but behind the Royal Blues there was still plenty on the line heading into the final round of fixtures.
Elversberg, Hannover and Paderborn entered the final matchday level one points, vying for a place in Germany's top flight via automatic promotion and the play-off berth, and season finale certainly didn't disappoint...
How does promotion and relegation work in the Bundesliga?
Schalke
Position: 1st (Champions)
Points: 70 (34 games)
Goal difference: +19 (50-31)
Schalke briefly conceded top spot early in 2026 - a position they had held since Matchday 14 - but they reclaimed it on Matchday 22 and have been there ever since.
After three seasons in Bundesliga 2, they can look forward to the Bundesliga once more after beating Fortuna Düsseldorf on Matchday 32, a win which also helped them secure the title.
Elversberg
Position: 2nd (automatic promotion)
Points: 62 (34 games)
Goal difference: +25 (64-39)
Having lost to Heidenheim in last season's play-off, Elversberg were determined to go one better this time around. Their Matchday 29 defeat against Schalke was only their second at home this season, and their resounding 5-1 win over Paderborn put them in the driving seat with two games remaining.
However, a shock 3-1 defeat on the road to Fortuna Düsseldorf on the penultimate matchday of the campaign meant they missed an early chance to all but seal promotion, but a 3-0 victory at home to relegated Münster on the final day secured a maiden promotion to the Bundesliga.
Paderborn
Position: 3rd (promotion play-off)
Points: 62 (34 games)
Goal difference: +14 (59-45)
Last relegated from the top flight in 2019/20, Paderborn are still hoping to mix it with the big boys again next term. Ralf Kettemann's side went on an impressive 10-match unbeaten run before losing a top-of-the-table clash to Schalke 3-2 on Matchday 31, and their 5-1 loss to Elversberg further dented their goal difference and ultimately their hopes of playing amongst the elite next term.
A 2-2 draw with Karlsruhe on the penultimate matchday of the season left Paderborn in a must-win clash against Darmstadt - a game they won to set up a two-legged play-off against Wolfsburg.
Hannover
Position: 4th
Points: 60 (34 games)
Goal difference: +16 (60-44)
Hannover took points off promotion rivals Schalke, Darmstadt and Paderborn, and returned to the top three on Matchday 31 courtesy of a vital victory against Karlsruhe.
Their 3-3 draw with rock-bottom Preußen Münster on Matchday 32 was a missed opportunity - as was their 1-1 draw against Bochum the following week. Despite leading Nuremberg on two occasions on Matchday 34, a 3-3 draw condemned Christian Titz's men to another season in Bundesliga 2.
