Darmstadt have been relegated to Bundesliga 2, just a year after their promotion to the top flight.

Defeat to Heidenheim on Matchday 31 leaves the Lilies rooted to the bottom of the table, 11 points adrift of the relegation play-off spot, with only nine left to play for. Torsten Lieberknecht's side have won just four times, whilst shipping 73 goals.

Watch: Darmstadt reached the end of the road against Heidenheim

Promoted as 2022/23 Bundesliga 2 runners-up, Darmstadt lost four of their first five Bundesliga games, before claiming back-to-back wins over Werder Bremen and Augsburg. They were bottom at the halfway stage, albeit four points behind outright safety, but a return of seven points from 14 Rückrunde games, coupled with improving fortunes elsewhere, sealed their fate.

It is the third time in their history that Darmstadt have suffered an immediate return to the second tier, following promotions in 1978 and 1981. They also went up in 2015, spending two straight seasons in the Bundesliga, before dropping back down to Bundesliga 2.

Darmstadt's 8-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on Matchday 9 did their goal difference no favours whatsoever. - Getty Images

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Cologne, Mainz, Bochum and Union Berlin are among the teams hoping to avoid following Lieberknecht's team through the trapdoor. The Billy Goats occupy the remaining automatic relegation spot and could be relegated next weekend. Mainz are five points better off in the play-off berth, two behind Bochum and Union. Borussia Mönchengladbach (32 pts.) and Wolfsburg (34 pts.), meanwhile, are not completely out of the woods yet.

The team that finishes 16th will face third in Bundesliga 2 over two legs for the right to play Bundesliga football in 2024/25.

About the clubs

SV Darmstadt 98

Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor