HSV clinch long-awaited Bundesliga return

Hamburger SV have clinched promotion back to the Bundesliga after seven years in the second tier of German football, having routed Ulm 6-1 on Saturday.

Until 2018, HSV were the only team to have played in every Bundesliga season since the competition’s 1963 inception, but they were relegated that year under Christian Titz.

The Hamburg giants have since endured several heartbreaking promotion near-misses, finishing fourth in the 2. Bundesliga on four occasions and third twice, in 2021-22 and 2022-23. They lost the promotion-relegation play-off on both occasions, to Hertha Berlin in 2022 and Stuttgart in 2023.

HSV even saw their cross-city rivals St. Pauli beat them to the top tier last season, but they will now compete in the Bundesliga in 2024-25 after sealing automatic promotion.

THIS IS NOT A DREAM, THIS IS REAL –