1. FC Köln have been crowned champions of the 2. Bundesliga after a thrilling final day saw them leapfrog long-time leaders Hamburger SV to clinch the title and seal their return to the Bundesliga.

Trailing HSV by a single point before kickoff, Köln hosted Kaiserslautern and delivered a commanding performance. Goals from Eric Martel, Gian-Luca Waldschmidt, Florian Kainz, and Mark Uth gave the home side a 4-0 win — a statement result when it mattered most.

The door to the title opened wide when Hamburg stumbled away to relegation-threatened Greuther Fürth, suffering a shock 3-2 defeat. Fürth’s hero was striker Branimir Hrgota — corrected from "Klaus" — who netted a sensational hat-trick to keep his side in the division. Despite goals from Jean-Luc Dompé and Robert Glatzel, HSV fell short at the final hurdle.

As a result, both Köln and Hamburg have earned automatic promotion back to the top flight for the 2025/26 season, while SV Elversberg — after a 2-1 win over Schalke 04 — finished third and will now face Heidenheim in a promotion/relegation playoff.

At the other end of the table, it’s heartbreak for SSV Ulm and Jahn Regensburg, who both drop to the 3. Liga. Eintracht Braunschweig will fight for survival in the relegation playoff.

2024-25, Germany - 2nd Bundesliga

Day : 2025-05-18

"Schalke 04" - "Elversberg" 1:2 (0:1)
Goals : Petkov L., 20 (0:1); Neubauer Maurice, 47 (0:2); Ben Balla, 85 (1:2)
Yellow Cards : Murkin 52; Antwi-Adjei 90 - Le Joncour 38; Pinckert 44

"Eintracht Braunschweig" - "Nurnberg" 1:4 (0:4)
Goals : Emreli (Madatov), 11 (0:1); Emreli (Madatov), 21 (0:2); Justvan, 32 (0:3); Emreli (Madatov), 45 (0:4); Polter, 90 (1:4)
Yellow Cards : Köhler S. 54 - Emreli (Madatov) 20

"SSV Ulm 1846" - "Preußen" 2:2 (1:0)
Goals : Telalovic, 10 (1:0); Bouchama, 54 (1:1); Kyerewaa, 75 (1:2); Röser, 85 (2:2)
Yellow Cards : Dressel 90 - Koulis 5; Makridis C. 38; Kyerewaa 63; Hendrix J. 71; Bazzoli 74

"1. FC Köln" - "Kaiserslautern" 4:0 (2:0)
Goals : Martel, 14 (1:0); Waldschmidt, 29 (2:0); Kainz, 76 (3:0); Uth, 87 (4:0)
Yellow Cards : - Ritter M. 45; Ronstadt 70

"Darmstadt" - "Jahn Regensburg" 3:1 (0:1)
Goals : Wurm, 8 (0:1); Hornby, 57 (1:1); Hornby, 64 (2:1); Müller A., 90 (3:1)
Yellow Cards : Müller A. 38; Vukotić 81 -

"Karlsruher SC" - "SC Paderborn 07" 3:0 (0:0)
Goals : Egloff, 50 (1:0); Egloff, 54 (2:0); Franke, 72 (3:0)
Yellow Cards : - Hansen M. 28; Ansah 71

"Greuther Furth" - "Hamburger" 3:2 (1:0)
Goals : Klaus, 41 (1:0); Dompe, 50 (1:1); Klaus, 57 (penalty) (2:1); Klaus, 63 (3:1); Glatzel, 67 (penalty) (3:2); Selke, 90 (3:3)
Yellow Cards : John M. 17; Klaus 87; Giesselmann 90; Jung G. 90 - Selke 90

"1. FC Magdeburg" - "Fortuna Dusseldorf" 4:2 (0:1)
Goals : Zimmermann, 19 (0:1); Hugonet Jean, 47 (1:1); Amaechi, 60 (2:1); Nollenberger, 73 (3:1); Jóhannesson Í.B., 81 (3:2); Kaars, 90 (4:2)
Yellow Cards : Burcu 28; Musonda L. 90 - Jóhannesson Í.B. 14; Kownacki 58; Siebert 90

"Hertha" - "Hannover 96" 1:1 (1:1)
Goals : Tresoldi, 10 (0:1); Reese, 38 (1:1)
Yellow Cards : Dardai M. 45 - Kunze 57; Leopold 64