Schalke 04 clinch promotion to the Bundesliga
By Tushar Bahl
One of the world’s fiercest sporting rivalries will be back next season, after Schalke 04 clinched promotion to the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Schalke 04 will be back in the Bundesliga next season after securing promotion with a win over St. Pauli on Saturday evening. The Royal Blues were relegated to the second division of German football last season at the end of a disastrous campaign. But they have managed to clinch promotion at the first time of asking.
Their return means that the Revierderby will be played again next season between arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04. Known as ‘the mother of all derbies,’ this fixture has produced some of the Bundesliga’s most iconic and memorable moments over the years.
Schalke’s return also means that there will be three teams from the Ruhr region in the Bundesliga next season. So Borussia Dortmund fans can look forward to local derbies against Bochum and Schalke in the Bundesliga.
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said on Friday that he would be very happy if Schalke won promotion to the Bundesliga. And Schalke 04 managed to get the job done on Saturday, as they came from two goals behind to claim a stunning 3-2 win over St. Pauli. They are now guaranteed to finish in the top two, regardless of how things play out on the final day of the season.
Next. Borussia Dortmund's five most memorable derby clashes against Schalke 04. dark
Werder Bremen will likely join Schalke in winning automatic promotion to the Bundesliga. Ole Werner’s side only need a point on the final day to clinch promotion. The battle for the promotion/relegation playoff spot is set to go down to the wire. Hamburger SV currently occupy third place due to their superior goal difference over Darmstadt.