Highlights
B. Dankert
Stuttgart stay up!
© AXEL HEIMKEN/AFP via Getty Images
Full-time
End of second half
90'
+ 7
Silas seals the deal!
The substitute has acres of space inside the box on the break, jinks past a couple of defenders and coolly slots the ball in from eight yards out.
Goal probability 
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
90'
+ 3
First in a while
Stuttgart could become the first team two win both legs in the promotion/relegation play-off since Wolfsburg did so in 2018 against Kiel.
90'
+ 3
90'
+ 1
Seven added minutes
We're into stoppage time now.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
Ito off the line!
Königsdörffer gets the better of Zagadou on the edge of the Stuttgart area, spins and races into the box. He flicks the ball past Müller, but Ito darts back in the nick of time to hook the ball clear.
87'
Time running out
VfB have spent the last little while in the HSV half, running the clock down. The hosts are still trying to get forward but this is a very steep mountain for them to climb, and not a lot of time left for them to do it.
82'
Threat on the counter
Not what HSV players or fans will want to see: Silas' pace and directness is the last thing the home team will want to deal with in these closing stages.
82'
Substitution
80'
Punching above their weight
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
1
0.56
1.74
1
Goals
76'
Kittel!
Another chance for the hosts as they push for another goal. The ball falls kindly for Kittel, 18 yards out, but his goal-bound shot is blocked for a corner by Anton. Moments later, Königsdörffer has a near-post header saved by Müller!
75'
So close from Glatzel!
Great pace from Jatta down the right and he pulls the ball back into the middle, finding Glatzel in the centre. It's the kind of delivery strikers dream off, but Glatzel's connection isn't quite clean enough and his shot from a central position, 10 yards out, bounces wide of the far post.
72'
Substitution
71'
Not over yet
HSV do have goals in them, so shouldn't be written off entirely yet. They recorded a 6-1 win over Hannover on 8 April this year, a 4-3 success over St. Pauli two weeks later, and beat Jahn Regensburg 5-1 on 14 May.
Two shots, two goals
© IMAGO/Hansjürgen Britsch/IMAGO/Pressefoto Baumann
69'
Substitution
67'
Substitution
67'
Substitution
67'
All change
After a spate of yellow cards there's also a spate of substitutions as both teams try to steer the match their way.
67'
Substitution
66'
Substitution
64'
The decider?
Millot gets his second of the game to surely put the result beyond Hamburg's reach. It's one that HSV goalkeeper Heuer Fernandes won't want to see again as he miscues an attempted clearance from a back pass. The ball rolls under his feet, allowing Millot to skip in and tap the ball into an empty net. That's 5-1 on aggregate now.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
61'
No nonsense
The visitors are well aware that the onus is on Hamburg to get forward now and push for goals. With that in mind, VfB are taking no risks, keeping a compact defence, reducing the spaces and breaking forward at pace when they can. It's clearly working: HSV haven't had a shot at goal in this half.
58'
Efficient
Goal attempts
1off target
3on target
3off target
1on target
Familiar face
© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn/IMAGO/Eibner
Millot on a role
© Maja Hitij/Getty Images
50'
As it stands
That goal means it's now 4-1 on aggregate for Stuttgart. Hamburg need three goals to level the tie, and four more - without reply - to earn promotion.
48'
Millot levels!
An ideal start to the half from a Stuttgart perspective as the ball is played through to Guirassy on the left-hand channel. He spies Millot lurking in the middle and squares the ball to his unmarked team-mate, who makes no mistake from 10 yards!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
46'
Here we go again!
A big 45 minutes coming up. No changes from Hamburg but Stuttgart have made one change at the break as Zagadou replaces Mavropanos, who was on a yellow card.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 5
Substitution
All still to play for
© IMAGO/Michael Taeger/IMAGO/Jan Huebner
Half-time
45'
+ 2
Müller to the rescue!
Stuttgart struggle to clear a cross into the box and when Jatta heads it back across goal there are two HSV players lurking to poke it over the line. Müller is alive to the danger though and paws the ball clear. How vital could that intervention prove to be?
44'
Keeping it tight
Goal attempts
1off target
2on target
2off target
0on target
41'
Wide from Glatzel!
It's the first shot of the game since the seventh minute as Glatzel finds space on the edge of the box, but his left-footed effort rolls wide of the upright.
Feeling the strain
© IMAGO/Cathrin Müller/IMAGO/Pressefoto Baumann
38'
Over from Guirassy
The VfB forward is bundled over in a central position, about 25 yards out. He takes the resulting free-kick himself and although he strikes it well, the ball is always rising and sails over the bar.
35'
Delightful Dompe
The HSV attacker skips past Mavropanos on the left as if he wasn't there and bursts forward. His cross into the middle comes to nothing, but that tussle between those two will be fascinating to watch, especially as the Stuttgart defender is on a yellow card now, so will have to be careful.
32'
Vital interception
Guirassy makes a diagonal run behind the HSV defence and a pass from a team-mate looks set to pick him out - but Schonlau reads the danger and intervenes to clear the danger.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
26'
Breathless HSV
24'
Millot almost in!
Guirassy slides a pass into the HSV box down the right, looking for Millot but Heuer Fernandes is quick off his line to clear the danger. Moments later, the HSV goalkeeper breathes a sigh of relief after slipping inside the box, almost gifting Millot an open goal. The custodian just manages to nick the ball off his toe in time, though.
21'
Mental game?
Guirassy's goal may not have stood, but how much will it affect the players' minds? Hamburg know they need to get forward but have seen how dangerous VfB can be. It will also encourage Stuttgart as they know they are likely to get chances as the clock ticks on.
18'
Goal disallowed
Patient build-up from Stuttgart along the edge of the HSV box, with Millot flicking the ball over to Endo down the left. He gets to the byline and squares it for Guirassy, who executes a lovely back-heel on the spin, sending the ball over the line agonisingly slowly. It won't count, however, due to an offside call in the build-up.
16'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
16'
No let up
Possession (%)
6535
What a hit, Son(ny)
© Maja Hitij/Getty Images
10'
Stuttgart rattled
8'
Almost an instant response!
Führich has the legs on Heyer down the Stuttgart left ass he scampers into the box. He gets a shot away, but is slightly off balance under pressure from Heyer, and Heuer Fernandes makes a good save at his near post!
7'
What a goal!
Dompe collects possession on the left, nutmegs Mavropanos and moves inside into a central position before sliding it over to his right to Kittel. The midfielder takes a touch and arrows an unstoppable shot into the corner from range! Game on!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
5'
Big save from Müller!
Dompe takes the free-kick and smacks a swerving effort at goal that Müller does well to parry over the bar. The ensuing corner comes to nothing.
4'
Nervy moments
Another roar from the raucous home crowd as Florian Müller wants a bit too long on the ball and is closed down by Glatzel, only to punt the ball clear in the nick of time. Mavropanos then gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position, 25-yards out, left of centre...
2'
Hamburg probing
Jatta goes down in the box under pressure from Endo, prompting a huge roar from the home crowd wanting a penalty. The HSV attacker slipped, however, and the referee waves for play to go on.
1'
And we're off!
The hosts get the ball rolling in Hamburg!
Kick-off!
Game faces on
© Oliver Hardt/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
More of the same?
While the teams had an equal share of possession in the first leg, Stuttgart had more shots (16 to seven), collectively covered more ground (111.7 km to 108.9 km) and won far more challenges (89 to 63). Will they gain the upper hand again here?
0:14
Watch: Volksparkstadion filling up
More on those teams
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß has named an unchanged line-up following the 3-0 triumph in the first leg. First-choice goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow remains absent with a knee injury, so Florian Müller remains between the sticks. Hosts Hamburg have made just one change, with Francisco Montero coming in at centre-back for Jonas David, who is absent through illness.
0:52
Watch: Stuttgart in the house!
Hamburg starting XI
Heuer Fernandes - Heyer, Montero, Schonlau (c), Muheim - Meffert, Kittel, Reis - Jatta, Glatzel, Dompe
Hamburg subs
Raab, Mikelbrencis, Zumberi, Kisilowski, Bilbija, Heil, Krahn, Königsdörffer, Sanne
Stuttgart starting XI
Müller - Mavropanos, Anton, Ito - Vagnoman, Karazor, Endo (c), Sosa - Millot, Guirassy, Führich
Stuttgart subs
Seimen, Stenzel, Zagadou, Haraguchi, Egloff, Nartey, Tomas, Silas, Pfeiffer
0:18
Watch: Stage set in Hamburg
3:30
Watch: Hamburg featured in one of the most dramatic play-offs ever
Tale of two strikers
© IMAGO/Pressefoto Rudel/Robin Rudel/IMAGO/Sportfoto Rudel
Unlucky Meffert set for record?
© Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Watch: Hamburg 0-2 Hertha Berlin - highlights of last year's second leg
VfB doing what they do best
© Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Home form key
It’s over seven months since Hamburg last lost a game at the Volksparkstadion. Their 10 games in that spell have seen eight wins and two draws, with 30 goals scored – that works out at the three per game that they need at the very minimum here. They also recorded their biggest home win over Stuttgart the last time the sides met here, thumping a VfB side coached at the time by none other than Tim Walter 6-2. That would do nicely for them again tonight.
HSV need to buck the trend
© DFL
An insurmountable deficit?
In the 25th edition of the play-offs between Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, Stuttgart’s 3-0 victory was just the third time a first leg was won by at least a three-goal margin – and the first ever by a home team. Nuremberg previously won 3-0 in Cottbus before a 2-0 victory back home brought them up in 2009. And back in 1984, Eintracht Frankfurt followed a 5-0 thumping in Duisburg with a 1-1 draw at home.
History on Stuttgart's side
Stuttgart are hoping to become the 12th Bundesliga team to win the play-off in 15 editions since it was reintroduced in 2008/09.
The Hoeneß effect
© Imago
Walter defiant
© Imago
Suhonen suspended
© Martin Rose / Getty Images
Hamburg's home advantage
© Bundesliga collection via Getty Images
Back here next season?
© Bundesliga collection via Getty Images
Advantage Stuttgart
The final act!
Welcome along to what is the final act in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, with the 18th member of Germany's top flight for 2023/24 to be determined!