HSV can actually only fail in itself
Four games, thirteen goals, twelve points – Hamburger SV had another run at the end of the season. The reward: third place instead of sixth.
If HSV also wins at Hansa Rostock on the last day of the game, they can take third place and thus the relegation for promotion. Although Darmstadt 98 is level on points, they have a goal difference that is nine goals worse.
Direct promotion would also be possible for Hamburg. Prerequisite for this: a success in Rostock with a simultaneous defeat of Werder Bremen against Regensburg. In this case, HSV would overtake their rivals in second place.
Dreaming is still allowed in Darmstadt too
The starting position of Darmstadt 98 is more difficult. The club could still come second or third, but for that they would have to win their game and at the same time would be dependent on blunders from the competition.
Darmstadt is likely to be relegated if they win and Hamburger SV lose or draw. Direct promotion would only succeed if Bremen loses and HSV doesn’t win their game.
St. Pauli can only theoretically be third
FC St. Pauli could also move into the relegation, at least in theory. In fact, this scenario is quite unlikely: HSV and Darmstadt would have to lose their games, FC St. Pauli win – only then could the club make up the three-point deficit.
There still remains the matter of the goal difference. FC St. Pauli’s is +13, Darmstadt’s is +22 and HSV’s is +31.
Source: tbe