The last away trip of the season could be a memorable one for SV Elversberg. With a win in Düsseldorf, the SVE would almost be assured of promotion to the Bundesliga because of the good goal difference. Also because the competitors dropped points.
SC Paderborn and Hannover 96 suffered severe setbacks in the promotion race of the 2nd Bundesliga. Both teams only played a draw. This means that SV Elversberg, Hannover 96 and Paderborn are level on points. However, the Saarlanders remain second in the table because of their significantly better goal difference.
Elversberg basically has match point in Düsseldorf
With a win at Fortuna Düsseldorf, Elversberger could virtually secure promotion on Sunday. On the last match day “only” bottom of the table Preußen Münster is waiting. SVE coach Wagner doesn’t take the game out of the equation: “I’m assuming that we have to win both games to get promoted,” said Wagner firmly.
Enormous pressure in the relegation battle for Fortuna Düsseldorf
The upcoming game against Düsseldorf is the eighth meeting between the two teams. There has only been one win for Fortuna so far, Elversberg won three times and a draw three times. The last few weeks in the relegation battle have also been mixed for Düsseldorf: six defeats in the last seven games also speak for the Saarlanders’ role as favorites in the game on Sunday (1.30 p.m.).
Vincent Wagner nevertheless warns against underestimating Alexander Ende’s team: “There are certainly better times to play against Düsseldorf. Everyone has now united behind the team and has understood what it’s about. From that point of view, the highest possible hurdle will await us.” For Fortuna it is about nothing less than staying in the league.
With 34 points, Düsseldorf is currently in 16th place, tied with Fürth (34 points) and still within reach of Bielefeld (36 points) and Braunschweig (37 points). “They will play very aggressively. It is important to survive certain phases where they put pressure on them. And then to score goals in the moments when we are under pressure. We have the team to survive. We are going there to get the three points,” says Wagner.
Use of Pinckert still open
As far as his staff is concerned, the coach is “still almost completely happy.” There was only a small training accident on Wednesday. Lukas Pinckert collided with Luca Pfeiffer, but was lucky.
“The devil is a squirrel sometimes. But as I know Pinki, our old warrior, he will be able to play again on Sunday,” joked Wagner, who still shows no signs of pressure. “Our basic attitude is: we want it. We really want it now. But that doesn’t mean that we lose our looseness, that’s also the secret of success,” reveals Vincent Wagner.
And it’s not just the Elversbergers who want to keep their cool for the last two games of the season, but also their focus: “Now it’s time to give it our all again for a week. The hope is, of course, that the level is at its highest at the end of the season. We’re also working even more focused,” explained Wagner.
“And of course we have the luxury of wanting to, not having to. We can play for promotion and not against relegation.” An away win for SVE should be the preliminary decision in the three-way battle for promotion to the Bundesliga.
Kick-off in the Düsseldorf Arena is on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. As usual, it’s available on SRinfo.de an audio streamto follow the game live as well as a match report to read after the game. SR television will show the match pictures from the encounter in the current report on Sunday and in the sports arena at 10:10 p.m.
To the table
Further results and the table of the 2nd Bundesliga can be found here.
The SR info news also reported on this topic on the radio on May 9, 2026.
More about SV Elversberg
First published: May 9, 2026 | 6:48 p.m
