Hamburger SV finally returns to Bundesliga after seven seasons in second division

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — After seven years of suffering, Hamburger SV finally clinched its return to the Bundesliga by routing Ulm 6-1 in Germany’s second division on Saturday.

Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer scored twice and Daniel Heuer Fernandes saved a penalty as Hamburg moved to the top of the division, an unassailable four points clear of third-placed Elversberg with one round remaining.

“We're back!” said Hamburg coach Merlin Polzin, a Hamburg native who took over on an interim basis from the fired Steffen Baumgart in November and kept going.

"When you put so much work in and you're rewarded, then you'll never forget it," said the 34-year-old Polzin, who confirmed his contract will be extended for the top division.

Hamburg was the last surviving member of the Bundesliga to have played every season since its formation in 1963, earning the nickname “der Dino,” until it was finally relegated in 2018 after several close shaves.

The club threatened to return every season it was away but suffered setbacks at pivotal moments.

Hamburg finished fourth in its first three seasons in the second division. Then it was twice third, only to lose the playoff against the team that finished third from bottom in the Bundesliga both times. It finished fourth again last season.

Hamburg needed a win on Saturday to be sure of finishing among the top two for automatic promotion. Thousands of its fans greeted the team bus on its way to the stadium with chants, cheers, flags and flares.

They likely feared the worst again when Ulm defender Tom Gaal fired the visitor ahead in the seventh minute.

But Ludovit Reis answered three minutes later, then Fernandes saved a penalty, and the home team struck twice before the interval through Königsdörffer and Davie Selke.

The next goal confirmed it was Hamburg’s night with Ulm goalkeeper Niclas Thiede fumbling a harmless looking cross against his own defender, Philipp Strompf, to deflect it in.

Königsdörffer grabbed his second in the 62nd to banish any last lingering doubts among the Hamburg fans, and Daniel Elfadli completed the rout.

While Ulm was relegated to the third division, thousands of Hamburg fans stormed the field to celebrate their team's promotion.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Hamburg fans storm the pitch after the match and celebrate promotion following a Bundesliga 2 soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Marcus Brandt/dpa via AP)

Hamburg's players and fans celebrate after scoring their fifth goal during a Bundesliga 2 soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Christian Charisius/dpa via AP)

Hamburg fans storm the pitch after the match to celebrate promotion following a Bundesliga 2 soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Marcus Brandt/dpa via AP)

Hamburg goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes celebrates with fans who stormed the pitch to celebrate promotion following a Bundesliga 2 soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Marcus Brandt/dpa via AP)

Hamburg's Davie Selke, center, scores a goal to make it 3:1 during the soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Christian Charisius/dpa via AP)

Hamburg's Davie Selke, center, fights for the ball against Ulm's Max Brandt, left, and Ulm's Tom Gaal during the soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Christian Charisius/dpa via AP)

Hamburg's Ransford Königsdörffer celebrates his goal during a Bundesliga 2 soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Marcus Brandt/dpa via AP)

Hamburg's Davie Selke celebrates his goal during a Bundesliga 2 soccer game between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 in Hamburg, Germany, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Christian Charisius/dpa via AP)

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan didn’t let city rival Inter Milan open up too big a gap at the top of Serie A as it fought back to win 3-1 at in-form Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot winning a penalty and then scoring two goals.

Inter had moved six points clear of Milan and Napoli with a 1-0 win over Lecce on Wednesday, coupled with Napoli’s frustrating draw against Parma.

Milan’s victory saw the Rossoneri cut the gap back to three points.

It didn’t start off so well for Massimiliano Allegri’s team, however.

Como — which was sixth in Serie A — got off to the perfect start when a corner was taken short and then floated in for Marc-Oliver Kempf to head the hosts into the lead in the 10th minute.

Como dominated but Milan leveled on the stroke of halftime when it was awarded a penalty after Rabiot was brought down by Kempf and Christopher Nkunku’s spot kick squirmed under the body of Jean Butez.

Milan turned the match around completely 10 minutes into the second half. Rafael Leão controlled a crossfield pass and then cut inside before lifting the ball over for Rabiot to chest down and volley across into the bottom right corner.

And Rabiot sealed the match shortly before full time when Niclas Füllkrug headed a ball back to the France midfielder and he drilled hard and low into the near corner.

Bologna ended a miserable run as it fought back to win 3-2 at relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in a match full of spectacular goals.

Bologna hadn’t won since November and got off to a poor start when it gave away the ball in the opposition penalty area and Antoine Bernède raced almost from box to box before laying it off for Gift Orban to fire home.

Riccardo Orsolini curled in an equalizer following a smart free kick and equally impressive goals from Jens Odgaard and Santiago Castro put Bologna 3-1 up at halftime.

Bologna midfielder Remo Marco Freuler accidentally turned a cross into his own net in the 71st minute.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Verona's Gift Orban, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Santiago Castro (9), right, celebrates goal 1-3 during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Marc-Oliver Kempf, center, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz, left, and AC Milan's Luka Modric in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)