Hamburg beat Ulm 6-1 and secure their return to the Bundesliga after a seven-years absence. The fans in Hamburg storm the pitch and celebrate their team. The Sparrows, meanwhile, must accept relegation after a bitter defeat.

Hamburg's stadium announcer pays respect to the guests from Ulm and the stadium shows sympathy for the Sparrows, whose relegation is already confirmed. A wonderful gesture!

One of the 57,000 visitors at the Volkspark is the nine millionth spectator of this second division season - for the first time in history, Bundesliga 2 has broken this symbolic barrier.

...that Ulm have conceded more than three goals so far this season.

Baldé comes on for Sahiti for HSV. For the visitors, Chessa replaces Keller, who had taken a knock just before half-time.

The ball is rolling again at the Volksparkstadion.

The fans in Hamburg are going crazy! The Red Shorts lead 3-1 at the break against an Ulm side that couldn't convert their chances despite playing very well in the first 45 minutes. Reis, Königsdörffer and Selke punished them clinically with their goals and now the atmosphere among the HSV fans is close to boiling over. Just 45 minutes to go until a possible return to the Bundesliga. Can Ulm work their way back into the match - and their bid to beat the drop?

It's 3-9 shots on goal and xGoals 0.2 to 1.6 in favour of Ulm - but Hamburg are in front in this potentially decisive match for the return to the Bundesliga.

There are spaces opening up in midfield for Hamburg, who keep pushing forward through Dompé. On his latest foray, a shot from the winger is safely collected by Ulm goalkeeper Thiede.

Every ball won is immediately celebrated loudly by the HSV fans. Ulm are facing an incredibly heated atmosphere here - but they are on the front foot in the early stages.

After a short delay, the match in Hamburg is underway!

"The wind blows from the north" can be read on a banner in Hamburg's North Stand. The teams are taking the pitch.

The competitors have all done their part: Elversberg and Paderborn won today, Köln overtook Hamburg yesterday with their victory in Funkel's comeback. But none of this need bother the Red Shorts - if they win today, they won't need to look over their shoulders any more - they will be back in the Bundesliga after seven years!

The situation for the visitors requires no complex calculations: it's win or go down! Only with a three-point haul can Ulm maintain their hopes of staying up. Anything else will see Ulm relegated at the final whistle.

There are two changes for HSV compared to the 4-0 win in Darmstadt. The first: Sahiti returns to the starting XI, relegating Balde to the bench. The second: the intriguing question of Hadzikadunic's replacement - Poręba starts in central defence.

Thiede - Allgeier, Gaal, Strompf, Rösch - Krattenmacher, Dressel - Higl, Kahvić, Keller - Telalović

Heuer Fernandes - Mikelbrencis, Poręba, Elfadli, Muheim - Königsdörffer, Meffert, Reis - Sahiti, Selke, Dompé

Victory for HSV will spell automatic promotion for the Hamburg side on Saturday, regardless of results elsewhere. A draw would also be enough, but only if both Paderborn and Elversberg fail to win their respective fixtures. On the other hand, Ulm will be relegated if they draw and Münster win, or if they lose and Münster avoid defeat.

"It's a match where there's a lot of pressure on both sides on Saturday. We're travelling to Hamburg with the clear aim of winning the match. That's our expectation."

"The city and all Hamburg supporters are burning for this match. It's important for me to mention again: It probably won't be a spectacle on Saturday - because Ulm simply play in a very nasty way. And because there's a lot at stake for both teams. That's why it's even more important that we keep the positive atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes. Everyone who has a ticket, please drive the team forward."

Ulm have taken the lead in all three encounters against Hamburg to date. In HSV's sole competitive victory at the Donaustadion in October 1999, Nico Jan Hoogma and Tony Yeboah turned the match around with late goals.

Hamburg came from behind to draw the reverse fixture. Both sides recorded away wins in their previous meetings, in the 1999/00 Bundesliga.

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 33 fixture between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 Fussball.