The Bundesliga promotion chase is heating up heading into the final four games. - © DFL

Bundesliga 2 promotion race: Holstein Kiel and St. Pauli on course, Fortuna Düsseldorf lead Hamburg in battle for third

20.04.2024

While Kiel and St. Pauli have a welcome cushion on the promotion play-off place, Düsseldorf have forged ahead of a Hamburg side who are quickly losing ground ...

Holstein Kiel
Position: 1st (automatic promotion)
Points: 61
Games played: 30
Goals: 60-34 (+26)

The Storks are flying towards the Bundesliga and their latest win away to fellow promotion chasers Hamburg felt significant. Tom Rothe's solitary strike at the Volksparkstadion helped Kiel's ten men to a big win and stretched Marcel Rapp's side's lead over the promotion play-off spot to six points with just four games to play. Added to the fact that Kiel have now won their last six on the bounce, all without conceding a single goal, it's hard to see how Die Störche can slip up now.

Watch: Highlights of Kiel's 1-0 win over Hamburg on Matchday 30

St. Pauli
Position: 2nd (automatic promotion)
Points: 60
Games played: 30
Goals: 56-33 (+223)

Pauli were unbeaten in a record-equalling 25 Bundesliga 2 matches, before defeats to Magdeburg and Schalke, either side of a barnstorming win over promotion rivals Kiel. However, victory against Hertha Berlin and Nuremberg meant the Boys in Brown went into the March international break 10 points clear of the promotion play-off spot. Fabian Hürzeler's side later suffered an unwelcome slip of two losses on the bounce but they came back with a bang in Hannover on Matchday 30 to give themselves a five-point lead over third placed Fortuna.

Watch: Hannover 1-2 St. Pauli - highlights

Fortuna Düsseldorf
Position: 3rd (promotion play-off)
Points: 55
Games played: 30
Goals: 64-35 (+29)

Düsseldorf have been out of the top-flight ever since relegation in 2019/20, with last season's fourth-place finish their best attempt at promotion in the intervening three seasons. Daniel Thioune's team are having another good crack at it in 2023/24, and have now won six on the spin to heap the pressure on the top-two while keeping fourth at arm's reach in the process.

Watch: Fortuna earn statement MD25 win over Hamburg - highlights

Hamburg
Position: 4th
Points: 49
Games played: 30
Goals: 55-42 (+13)

Hamburg need a strong finish if they're to force their way back into the top three with four games remaining. A third successive play-off appearance is beginning to look a distant dream after Steffen Baumgart's team suffered a 1-0 setback at home against Kiel on Matchday 30. The Red Shorts are not out of contention, but they have drifted to six points from third and can count a big derby game against Pauli among a tough set of final fixtures.

Watch: HSV mounted an admirable fightback at Magdeburg on Matchday 29

Karlsruhe
Position: 5th
Points: 46
Games played: 29
Goals: 61-45 (+16)

An impressive win over leaders Pauli on Matchday 28 came amidst some admirable gatheirng momentum for Christian Eichner's side and although picking up three points against Hertha Berlin menat it was just one defeat in nine for KSC, they may have left it too late to achieve a play-off place.

Watch: Karlsruhe stun St. Pauli

Hannover
Position: 6th
Points: 45
Games played: 30
Goals: 52-38 (+14)

A five-game unbeaten run, including four straight wins, propelled Hannover to within touching distance of the promotion places. However, a surprise 1-0 loss at bottom side Osnabrück on Matchday 23 meant they missed the chance to climb into the play-off spot. Three subsequent draws were seen as further missed opportunities. Going down against promotion rivals Pauli may have put paid to distant hopes of the play-offs.

Watch: Hannover won a seven-goal thriller in Hamburg

Hertha Berlin
Position: 7th
Points: 44
Games played: 30
Goals: 62-51 (+11)

Hertha had given themselves an outside chance of returning to the top-flight with an excellent run of form under Pál Dárdai. A 4-0 dismissing of Hansa Rostock was their third in four games, but with an untimely loss away at Karlsruhe on Matchday 30, the Old Lady's race might just be run for this season.

Watch: Hertha Berlin 5-2 Schalke - highlights