The 2025/26 Bundesliga 2 promotion race: Who will earn a place in Germany’s top flight?
As always seems to be the case in Bundesliga 2, there is little to choose between the sides jostling for position near the top of the second-tier table this season.
Ruhr district giants Schalke currently lead the way, but the Royal Blues have several teams breathing down their necks as we enter the final three months of the 2025/26 campaign.
We train the spotlight on the teams eyeing a place in the top flight next term…
Watch: The top five Bundesliga 2 goals on Matchday 20
Schalke
Position: 1st (automatic promotion)
Points: 39 (20 games)
Goal difference: +10 (24:14)
Next fixture: Dynamo Dresden (h)
Schalke have topped the table since Matchday 14, but a patchy run of form has given the teams below them an opportunity to close the gap at the division’s summit.
However, having bolstered their squad with the likes of Edin Džeko, Adil Aouchiche and Moussa N’Diaye in January, Miron Muslić’s side will be confident of going the distance this season – particularly if they can maintain their remarkable defensive record.
No team in Germany’s top three divisions has conceded fewer goals than Schalke, who have also registered more wins than any other second-tier side. After three seasons in Bundesliga 2, a return to the top flight looms large on the horizon.
Elversberg
Position: 2nd (automatic promotion)
Points: 38 (20 games)
Goal difference: +17 (37:20)
Next fixture: Hertha Berlin (h)
Having lost to Heidenheim in last season’s promotion/relegation play-off, Elversberg are determined to go one better this time around.
Hot on the heels of leaders Schalke, Vincent Wagner’s side are nine points better off than they were at this stage of the 2024/25 campaign. They also boast the strongest attack in the division, despite losing top scorer Younes Ebnoutalib to Eintracht Frankfurt in January.
One of only two Bundesliga 2 clubs yet to lose in front of their own fans this season, Elversberg have also collected more points on their travels (19) than any other second-tier outfit.
Darmstadt
Position: 3rd (two-legged play-off vs. 16th in the Bundesliga)
Points: 38 (20 games)
Goal difference: +14 (36:22)
Next fixture: Kaiserslautern (h)
Like Elversberg, Darmstadt remain unbeaten on home soil this term – but the Lilies have registered more points in front of their own supporters than Elversberg or any other side.
Unbeaten since losing narrowly to Schalke on Matchday 10, Florian Kohfeldt’s charges also boast the league’s joint-top scorer in Isac Lidberg, who found the net more often than any other current Bundesliga 2 player in the first half of the campaign.
Darmstadt last gained promotion in 2022/23, but were relegated after just one season in the top flight. Kohfeldt and his players would love the opportunity to go one better next year.
Paderborn
Position: 4th
Points: 36 (20 games)
Goal difference: +8 (31:23)
Next fixture: Nuremberg (h)
Paderborn were top after Matchday 13, but have picked up only seven points from their last eight league matches.
Despite their recent struggles, only leaders Schalke have racked up more wins than Ralf Kettemann’s team, while only two sides – Elversberg and Hannover – have collected more points on their travels.
Last relegated from the top flight in 2019/20, Paderborn are hoping to mix it with the Bundesliga big boys again next term – but they need to find some consistency soon.
Hannover
Position: 5th
Points: 35 (20 games)
Goal difference: +8 (35:27)
Next fixture: Holstein Kiel (h)
After going four games without a win between Matchdays 15 and 18, Hannover have managed to reignite their automatic promotion hopes in recent weeks.
Die Roten have been excellent on their travels, but their home form still needs work. Eight teams have picked up more points in front of their own fans this season than Hannover, who have won five and lost three of their nine matches at the Heinz von Heiden Arena.
There is plenty of cause for optimism, though. Christian Titz’s team have not only enjoyed the most possession in Bundesliga 2, they have also struck the woodwork more often than any other club. With Lady Luck on their side, Hannover remain a force to be reckoned with.
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