After the 1: 6 defeat at Hamburger SV, the Ulm can no longer prevent a descent from the 2nd Bundesliga. The SSV has to plan one match day before the end of the season for the 3rd league.
The emotional worlds on this Saturday evening (May 10, 2025) in the Hamburg Volksparkstadion could not have been more different: The players of the SSV Ulm quickly disappointed in the catacombs, while on the lawn the Hamburg promotion party was in full swing. Because it has been clear since 10:25 p.m.: The HSV is back in the Bundesliga after seven years – and for SSV Ulm 1846 the 2nd Bundesliga adventure ended after just one season.
Since Prussia Münster had left Hertha BSC as the winner on Friday evening and had equated with Braunschweig and Fürth (all 35 points) after points, it was clear before the SSV’s game in Hamburg that the Ulm (29 points) could only have avert two victories from the last two season games. However, the 1: 5 defeat on the 33rd matchday against the Bundesliga promoted Hamburger SV seals the course of the Ulm Spatzen back into the 3rd division.
Euphoric hamburgers seal Ulm descent
“It hurts incredibly,” said Ulm’s veteran Johannes Reichert after the game at “Sky”. “I love this club, it shouldn’t have been in my opinion. But SSV Ulm will never go under, I will take care of that,” Reichert promised. “We will only play professional football for the third year after a long time, you shouldn’t forget that.” In two years, the SSV from the regional league had marched directly into the 2nd Bundesliga, but has been in the table since the beginning of the 2024/25 season.
The players’ games were often very narrow, even against top teams of the league, SSV Ulm bravely beat. So also against the HSV: Tom Gaal shot the guests in the lead early (7th minute). “We played super 35, 40 minutes,” said a deeply disappointed Ulm coach Robert Lechleiter. “There is nothing to be accused of the boys.” Because after the compensation of Ludovit Reis (10th) Semir Telalovic Ulm could have shooted again in front through a penalty, but failed to HSV keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes (36.). Initial spark for the hosts, who flew to victory and the first division climbing for the hosts, through goals by Ransford Königsdörffer (42., 62.), Davie Selke (45.+4), a curious own goal of Straitpf (49.) and Daniel Elfadli (86.).
Neu-coach Lechleiter also cannot prevent descent
The highest Ulm season defeat, in turn, does not seem to fully reproduce the course of this season: Ulm played well in many games, but was too rare to leave the pitch as a winner. Often you lost unhappy. With 46 goals conceded, the Ulm set the second best defense in the lower half of the table, but too often did too little in the storm. 34 Own hits mean the second worst offensive series (only the bottom of the table regensburg hit even less often).
For a long time, the Ulm managers had captured the promotion coach Thomas Wörle before reacted in mid -March 2025. The consequence: Wörle had to go, for him Robert Lechleiter took overthe sparrows New life in the relegation battle breathed in. His team won seven points in the first four games under his direction – but in the end he also couldn’t secure the remaining class. Lechleiter did not want to comment on his own future at SSV Ulm after the game.
SSV Ulm received a license for 3rd league
The Ulm, on the other hand, had already been prepared for all eventualities before the away game in Hamburg. Although it becomes the Danube Stadium rebuilt in the coming yearsbut for economic and atmospheric reasons, a football arena should be built in the long term at another location – despite the relegation. Managing Director Markus Thiele said during the week in conversation with the SWR that “the club can still develop stably”. The club had received the license for both leagues without economic requirements. Nevertheless, one now wants to do everything possible to “continue the abbreviation that we took last year,” said Thiele.
Before going to the 3rd league, a second division game is coming up for the Ulm. On the last matchday, the SSV welcomes the relegation competitor Münster (Sunday, May 18, 2025, 3:30 p.m.), for which it is still a direct relegation.
Prize on Sun., 11.5.2025 10:05 p.m., SWR Sport, SWR
