Düsseldorf relegated to the 3rd division after 17 years – Ex-Fortuna player Klaus scores twice

Fortuna Düsseldorf missed out on staying up on the final matchday of the 2. Bundesliga and is relegated directly. The 0:3 (0:3) at SpVgg Greuther Fürth was a blow in several respects: It was clear in sporting terms, extremely costly in terms of the table – and it turned the direct duel in the relegation zone in favor of the Franconians.

On matchday 34, Düsseldorf lost 0:3 at Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer in front of 16,126 spectators. With this, Fürth overtook Fortuna in the table and secured 16th place, which leads to the relegation playoff. Düsseldorf slipped to 17th place and must play in the third division again after 17 years – for the first time since the 2008/09 season. At the same time, the results of the competition worsened the situation: Arminia Bielefeld won 6:1 against Hertha BSC, Eintracht Braunschweig lost 0:1 at FC Schalke 04. In this constellation, there was no back door left for Düsseldorf.

Fürth decides the match already in the first half

The match turned almost with the kick-off. Felix Klaus, who played for Düsseldorf for years, put Fürth ahead in the 2nd minute. In the 16th minute, Klaus made it 2:0 and with his brace made it clear early on how much was at stake in this encounter – for Fürth as a chance to avoid direct relegation, for Düsseldorf as a sudden worst-case scenario.

Even before the break, Noel Futkeu scored to make it 3:0 (36'). Fürth could have led by even more: Sayfallah Ltaief missed further chances (8'/45'), Klaus also failed once more (33'). In this phase, Düsseldorf found neither access in the center nor calm in their own build-up – and seemed a step slower in the decisive moments than a relegation battle allows.

Düsseldorf's pressure after the break remains ineffective

After the break, Düsseldorf coach Alexander Ende's team increased the pressure, but the course of the game was practically predetermined. The visitors did not create any major chances. Fürth defended the lead in a controlled manner, allowed little dynamism in the final third, and increasingly took away Düsseldorf's belief as the game went on.

This was the sporting message of the afternoon: Fürth was not only efficient early on, but then managed the lead so consistently that Düsseldorf, despite greater efforts, hardly managed to create any real chances.

Relegation for Fürth, direct relegation for Düsseldorf

With the home win, Greuther Fürth keeps alive the chance to avoid relegation after almost three decades in the 1st and 2nd divisions. In the relegation playoff, the "Kleeblatt" will face third-placed Rot-Weiss Essen from the 3rd division. The first leg will take place on Friday in the Ruhr area, the return leg the following Tuesday in Fürth.

For Fortuna Düsseldorf, the consequence is harsher: 17th place means direct relegation to the 3rd division. The club, which had long hoped for a stabilizing season, now faces a deep cut – both in sporting and organizational terms. The final matchday thus became the endpoint of a rescue mission that broke down in Fürth within the first 45 minutes.