German club SC Paderborn 07 sealed a dramatic return to the Bundesliga after edging VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 on aggregate in Monday’s relegation playoff, condemning the former Bundesliga champions to their first drop from the top flight in nearly three decades.
Paderborn secured a 2-1 victory after extra time in the second-leg playoff clash, with Laurin Curda emerging as the hero after scoring the decisive winner in the 99th minute.
The result completed a remarkable turnaround for the hosts, who will now return to Germany’s top division for the first time in six seasons, while Wolfsburg’s 29-year stay in the Bundesliga came to an abrupt end.
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Wolfsburg, champions of Germany in 2009, entered the playoff under intense pressure after a disappointing domestic campaign despite reportedly possessing one of the league’s most expensive squads. Instead of challenging for European qualification as expected, the Volkswagen-backed side will now compete in Bundesliga 2 for the first time since 1997.
The visitors made a dream start when striker Dzenan Pejcinovic fired a low effort into the bottom corner just three minutes into the game.
But the contest swung dramatically minutes later after defender Joakim Maehle received two yellow cards within a chaotic three-minute spell. The Danish international was first booked for kicking the ball away before being shown a second yellow for a reckless tackle on Mattes Hansen.
With Wolfsburg reduced to 10 men, Paderborn piled pressure on the visitors for long periods of the match. Their persistence paid off just before half-time when Filip Bilbija headed home at the far post to level the tie.
The visitors survived wave after wave of pressure throughout the second half and forced the game into extra time, but Paderborn eventually found the breakthrough that transformed the stadium atmosphere.
Veteran forward Sven Michel floated a cross into the area and Curda met it with a composed volley to spark wild celebrations among home supporters.
The defeat marks one of Wolfsburg’s darkest moments since rising into the Bundesliga in the late 1990s. The club had established itself as a consistent top-flight side and famously won the Bundesliga title in 2009.
Their relegation now raises serious questions about the club’s direction and rebuilding plans ahead of next season.
For Paderborn, the playoff triumph represents another major milestone for a club that has repeatedly battled back from setbacks. The victory sends them back into the Bundesliga with renewed confidence and momentum ahead of the new campaign.
