Perfect return to the first league
German professional celebrates promotion with traditional club
May 1, 2026 – 10:07 p.mReading time: 1 min.
An ambitious club achieves direct promotion back to the top division of their country. Also there: A former player from the 2nd Bundesliga in Germany.
FC Venice returns to the Italian Serie A after a year. Thanks to support from Mantova, the team, for which German striker Lion Lauberbach plays, was assured of promotion on the penultimate matchday despite a 2-2 (1-0) draw at Spezia Calcio.
Venice lost a 2-0 lead in the final phase, but benefited from Mantova 1911 scoring 3-2 in stoppage time against pursuers AC Monza. Venice (79 points) leads the Serie B table ahead of Frosinone Calcio (78) and Monza (75). Frosinone still needs a point on the last matchday against Mantova to secure promotion. The teams in places three to eight are playing for the third ticket to Italy’s upper house of football.
Venice starts its 15th Serie A season in the summer. After the last three promotions, the club went straight back down.
Lauberbach moved to Venice from KV Mechelen in Belgium during the winter break and previously played for Eintracht Braunschweig (2021-23) and Holstein Kiel (2019-21), among others. The 28-year-old has scored one goal in 11 games for Venice so far.
