BERLIN — Elversberg secured its first-ever Bundesliga promotion on Sunday, finishing as runner-up in Germany's second division behind already-promoted Schalke following a decisive 3-0 home victory over last-place Preußen Münster.
Early goals from Bambasé Conté and David Mokwa, then a third from Mokwa, sealed the win and sent Elversberg above Paderborn on goal difference.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
A town of 13,000 punches above its weight
The club from Saarland, a town of just 13,000 inhabitants, will become the 59th club to compete in the Bundesliga since its formation in 1963.
"It's hard to grasp what just happened here," forward Luca Schnellbacher said. "It feels like a dream. I'd never have imagined that (Bayern Munich star) Harry Kane will be walking out at this ground."
Last season, Elversberg lost a promotion playoff to Heidenheim — the same team relegated from the top flight on Saturday. The club was playing in the fourth tier as recently as 2022, earned promotion to the third division that year, then spent just one season there before reaching the second tier in 2023.
Hannover lets playoff spot slip away
The battle for third place proved dramatic. Hannover was leading Nuremberg 3-2 and appeared headed for the promotion playoff spot, but substitute Luka Lochoshvili scored late for the visitors. That goal allowed Paderborn to leapfrog Hannover into third thanks to a 2-0 win at Darmstadt.
Paderborn will now face Wolfsburg in a two-legged playoff to determine who plays in the Bundesliga next season, with Wolfsburg hosting the first leg on Thursday.
"We're all a bit speechless," Hannover captain Enzo Leopold said.
Elsewhere in the second division
Schalke signed off on its title by winning 1-0 over Eintracht Braunschweig, having clinched promotion with two rounds remaining.
Fortuna Düsseldorf was relegated to the third division after a 3-0 loss at Greuther Fürth. Fürth's victory moved the club above Düsseldorf on goal difference, clinching the relegation playoff berth. Braunschweig meanwhile stayed up despite losing, finishing above Fürth on goal difference.