A host of teams are vying for promotion to the Bundesliga, but who will reach the promised land? - © DFL

2. Bundesliga

The 2024/25 Bundesliga 2 promotion race

09.03.2025

The battle for promotion from Bundesliga 2 is as captivating as ever, with no fewer than 10 teams still in with a realistic chance of moving up to the top flight. Here, bundesliga.com walks you through the current state of play...

Hamburg
Position: 1st
Points: 48 (26 games)
Goals: 58-32 (+26)

Last 5 results:

Next 5 matches:

Now in their seventh year in the second tier, Hamburg are once again in the hunt for promotion. Steffen Baumgart started the campaign in the dugout, but was relieved of his duties after HSV dropped down to eighth in November. However, the Red Shorts have lost just once under replacement Merlin Polzin, who has steered the three-time Bundesliga champions back to the top of the division with eight games remaining.

Watch: Magdeburg 0-3 Hamburg - highlights

Cologne
Position: 2nd
Points: 47 (26 games)
Goals: 40-31 (+9)

Last 5 results:

Next 5 matches:

Cologne remain in the hunt for an immediate return to the Bundesliga following their relegation last term. Gerhard Struber was appointed as head coach in the summer and, while they took a while to get going - they amassed just 12 points from their opening 10 games - they have since been impressive. A run of three games without a win has allowed other teams to catch up but consecutive victories over Ulm and Darmstadt on Matchdays 25 and 26 returned them to second-place. Damion Downs and Tim Lemperle have provided much of the attacking impetus, yet their form has relied primarily on their sturdy defence.

Damion Downs has impressed for Cologne this season. - IMAGO/Herbert Bucco

Paderborn
Position: 3rd
Points: 45 (26 games)
Goals: 44-32 (+12)

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It took until Matchday 9 for Paderborn to lose their first game of the season, and with no further losses forthcoming by the end of Matchday 14, their position at the top of the table was as inevitable as it was deserved. A subsequent run of three defeats in four matches stopped their momentum, but they bounced back win three wins in four matches to get back on track. Since Bundesliga relegation after the 2019/20 campaign, they have always been in and around the play-off spots, but never serious contenders. However, a stunning Matchday 26 win against fellow promotion hopefuls Kaiserslautern might change all that.

Paderborn are dreaming of Bundesliga promotion. - IMAGO/Sportfoto Zink / Wolfgang Zink

Kaiserslautern
Position: 4th
Points: 43 (26 games)
Goals: 46-40 (+6)

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Not too long ago, Kaiserslautern were fighting for their lives in the third division. Fast-forward four years, though, and they are well-placed to end their 14-year hiatus from Germany's elite. There have been ups and downs throughout this term, too - for example, following a 3-1 win over high-flying Karlsruhe on Matchday 15 with a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Darmstadt - but they remain firmly in the promotion hunt and are hot on the heels of the top teams. Ragnar Ache's goals have played a big role in Kaiserslautern's success, he has 13 for the season.

Ragnar Ache is Kaiserlautern's leading goalscorer this term. - IMAGO/Frey-Pressebild/Deines

Magdeburg
Position: 5th
Points: 42 (26 games)
Goals: 53-41 (+12)

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Nobody sums up the Bundesliga 2's unpredictability quite like Magdeburg. They rose into the promtion hunt thanks to the best away form in the league with nine wins from their first 11 away matches, but they had to wait until Matchday 22 for their first home victory. It was worth the wait, with league-leading Cologne downed 3-0 in a statement win. Magdeburg are underdogs, having never competed in the Bundesliga since Germany's reunification and with a historical highest finish of 11th in Bundesliga 2.

Martijn Kaars (c.) has led the line brilliantly for Magdeburg in 2024/25. - IMAGO/Stefan Brauer/Brauer-Fotoagentur

Hannover
Position: 6th
Points: 42 (26 games)
Goals: 34-26 (+8)

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Hannover's campaign has been a story of contrasting efficiency - with struggles to score but a very steely defence. Now a veteran at 36, captain Ron-Robert Zieler has led by example and put in an array of top performances to keep nine clean sheets. A series of draws in 2025 have slightly tempered their promotion hopes, but with five of their final nine games against teams currently in the bottom half, they will hope a strong run will see them move up the standings and make a late, decisive push.

Hannover captain Ron-Robert Zieler kept nine clean sheets in his first 22 performances. - IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi

Nuremberg
Position: 7th
Points: 41 (26 games)
Goals: 43-39 (+4)

Last 5 results:

Next 5 matches:

Nuremberg have spent almost half the season in the bottom half, only for a run of five unbeaten matches to see their hopes of promotion reignited. Following Can Uzun's move to Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, Stefanos Tzimas was brought in as a replacement, and his goals have kept them ticking along nicely. Finn Jeltsch's mid-season switch to VfB Stuttgart is a blow, so it remains to be seen how Nuremberg deal without him in the long term. Regardless of what happens, supporters will always have the Matchday 10 clash against Jahn Regensburg, when they scored six second-half goals in an 8-3 triumph, to look back upon fondly.

Watch: Nuremberg 8-3 Regensburg - highlights

Fortuna Düsseldorf
Position: 8th
Points: 41 (26 games)
Goals: 43-38 (+5)

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Much like Magdeburg, a solid start to the season for Düsseldorf has had them in the promotion discussion from the off. Daniel Thioune's outfit even occupied top spot for seven matchdays, but four losses in six games in the autumn saw them drop off the pace. They do remain within striking distance of the top three, however, and promotion could be Fortuna's if they can go on a bit of a run. Keeping Dawid Kownacki fit and firing over the coming months will be essential if that's to happen.

Watch: Cologne 1-1 Fortuna Düsseldorf - highlights

Elversberg
Position: 9th
Points: 40 (26 games)
Goals: 45-32 (+13)

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Given how Elversberg have adapted to life in Bundesliga 2, it is easy to forget this is just their second season at this level of the German footballing pyramid. In fact, they were league-leaders as late as Matchday 16, when a 3-0 win over Eintracht Braunschweig put them on top of the pile. Consistency has been an issue - but a six-game unbeaten run has aided their promotion push. If they are to achieve an unlikely promotion, the showings of attacking star Fisnik Asllani are bound to have a big say in their fortunes.

Fisnik Asllani has been Elversberg's star man this term. - IMAGO/Fabian Kleer

Karlsruhe
Position: 10th
Points: 37 (26 games)
Goals: 44-46 (-2)

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Next 5 matches:

Where would Karlsruhe be had they kept hold of Budu Zivzivadze in January? Prior to the winter break, the Georgia international's 12 goals had fired his team up to second in the table but, since his switch to Bundesliga outfit Heidenheim, Karlsruhe have struggled. Their promotion hopes may therefore rely on whether Marvin Wanitzek and Fabian Schleusener can fill the void. The nine-game unbeaten run to get the season underway will give them inspiration, but they will need to sort out defensive issues if they are to mount a serious promotion push.

Budu Zivzivadze's departure has had a negative effect on Karlsruhe's form. - IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Jan Prihoda

Check out the full Bundesliga 2 standings