Bundesliga 2, Matchday 33: Preußen Münster suffer relegation, Elversberg promotion celebrations on ice
Elversberg's promotion hopes were put on the back burner for another week after suffering a shock defeat away to Fortuna Düsseldorf, for whom victory provided a vital three points in their fight for survival. Meanwhile, Preußen Münster were the first team to have relegation from Bundesliga 2 confirmed after failing to beat Darmstadt at home.
Preußen Münster 1-1 Darmstadt
Goals: 1-0 Yamada 8’, 1-1 Lidberg 15’
Sent off: Hendrix 28’
Münster could not avoid relegation on Matchday 33 as they were held to a draw at home to Darmstadt. Shin Yamada provided an early flicker of hope, which was extinguished not long after by an equaliser from Isac Lidberg. Things then went from bad to worse as Jorrit Hendrix was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Killian Corredor. Lidberg had the chance to double his side’s lead from the spot before the break but squandered the penalty. Despite a valiant effort from the 10 men of Preußen in the second half, the go-ahead goal proved elusive, meaning they will be playing in the 3. Liga in 2026/27.
Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-1 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Le Joncour 26' (o.g.), 2-0 Itten 44', 3-0 Itten 51', 3-1 Oberdorf 90'+1' (o.g.)
Düsseldorf's biggest win of the season could not have come at a better time as they beat promotion-hopefuls Elversberg. An own goal from Florian Le Joncour was followed by up a typical striker's finish from Cedric Itten just before the break to put the hosts in complete control. The Fortuna front man would then strike again just after the break. Vincent Wagner's team showed some late fight, reducing arrears through a forced Tim Oberdorf owngoal, but it was too little, too late. They could yet secure promotion on the final day, but for Alexander Ende's side, this was a much needed three points in the battle for Bundesliga 2 survival.
Hertha 2-1 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 1-0 Eichhorn 55’, 2-0 Cuisance 84’, 2-1 Futkeu 88’
Sent off: Brekalo 32’
Fürth are on the brink of relegation after a 2-1 defeat to Hertha at the Olympiastadion. The away side’s bid for survival was boosted in the first half, when Josip Brekalo was dismissed for a last-man challenge on Felix Klaus. However, Fürth couldn’t make their man advantage count, as in the second period, 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn scored his first league goal for Hertha to become Bundesliga 2's youngest-ever goalscorer. The hosts doubled their lead late on through Michaël Cuisance, before surviving an attempted comeback after Noel Futkeu halved the deficit shortly before the end.
Nuremberg 3-0 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Schallenberg 19’ (o.g.), 2-0 Koudossou 45’+1, 3-0 Alì Zoma 72’
Miroslav Klose’s Nuremberg extended their unbeaten run to four games with victory over already-crowned champions Schalke. Rafael Lubach started the party for the hosts, as his shot took a huge deflection off Ron Schallenberg for the opening goal. Mohamed Alì Zoma had two subsequent first-half strikes disallowed for offside before Henri Koudossou doubled Der Club’s lead just before the break. Schalke attempted a fight-back after the restart, but after soaking up the Royal Blues’ pressure, Nuremberg added a third with Alì Zoma finally timing his run to perfection to secure the three points.
Bochum 1-1 HannoverGoals: 0-1 Nawrocki 50’, 1-1 Alfa-Ruprecht 55’
Hannover dropped crucial points in their quest for promotion after drawing in Bochum. Moritz-Broni Kwarteng went closest to opening in the scoring for the hosts, before Maik Nawrocki scored with Hannover’s first shot on target. The 96ers’ joy was short-lived, though, as Farid Alfa-Ruprecht equalised with a superb curling effort to secure a share of the points.
Eintracht Braunschweig 2-1 Dynamo DresdenGoals: 1-0 Flick 20’, 2-0 Alidou 50’, 2-1 Kutschke 86’
Braunschweig held on to secure three crucial points against relegation rivals Dresden. In a half of few chances, Florian Flick fired the hosts into an early lead before Faride Alidou doubled Braunschweig’s lead after the break. Ron-Thorben Hoffmann then made himself big to deny Dresden forward Stefan Kutschke from the spot, but his strike deep into the second period wasn’t enough to secure a share of the spoils as Dresden suffered a second defeat in three games.
Paderborn 2-2 KarlsruheGoals: 1-0 Bilbija 20’, 1-1 Schleusener 75’, 1-2 Fukuda 79’, 2-2 Klaas 85'
Kaiserslautern 2-0 Arminia BielefeldScorers: 1-0 Ritter 15’ (pen.), 2-0 Asta 29’
Bielefeld remain in serious relegation danger following defeat at Kaiserslautern. The Red Devils have had difficulty in front of goal in recent weeks, but they ended a run of 327 minutes without finding the back of the net when Marlon Ritter scored from the penalty spot a quarter of an hour in. By the half-hour mark, they were two up as Simon Asta fired into the corner. Arminia's battle to beat the drop will go down to the final matchday, while Kaiserslautern are in the relative comforts of mid-table.
Holstein Kiel 1-3 MagdeburgGoals: 0-1 Hugonet 40’, 0-2 Stalmach 45’+2, 0-3 Atik 56’, 1-3 Kaprálik 90’+2
Magdeburg boosted their chances of survival with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Holstein Kiel. Jean Hugonet and Dariusz Stalmach struck for the visitors just before the break, before Baris Atik scored directly from a corner kick. Adrián Kaprálik netted a consolation goal but Magdeburg held on for back-to-back wins, bringing an end to Kiel’s six-game unbeaten run.
Watch: The top 5 goals from Matchday 33
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