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Paderborn, Freiburg relegated; Hamburg into relegation play-off

Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters

A jaw-dropping relegation battle consumed the Bundesliga's final matchday, as the nine simultaneous games saw the bottom of the table change continually over the course of 90 minutes.

At the end of the drama, however, it was SC Paderborn 07 and SC Freiburg who found themselves confined to the relegation zone, meaning the two clubs will play in 2. Bundesliga next season.

Although Paderborn fell 2-1 at home to VfB Stuttgart, a win wouldn't have been enough to save Andre Breitenreiter's side from the drop. Freiburg, on the other hand, will be kicking themselves as a point would have been enough to secure their place in the next season's top flight. Unfortunately for Christian Streich's side, they were defeated 2-1 at Hannover 96.

Hamburger SV, meanwhile, the only German club to have never played in a division below the Bundesliga, barely avoided automatic relegation by claiming a 2-0 win versus FC Schalke 04. Hamburg will now feature in a relegation play-off versus the third-placed side in 2. Bundesliga to determine their fate.

Regarding what clubs will be promoted from 2. Bundesliga, FC Ingolstadt 04 booked their place in next season's top flight last weekend, while SV Darmstadt 98, Karlsruher SC and 1. FC Kaiserslautern will battle it out for the second automatic promotion on Sunday.

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