While Preußen Münster have already been confirmed as promoted to the 3rd Division in the Regionalliga West, there is still suspense in other divisions. An overview.

It was not a foregone conclusion. But it is now certain that MSV Duisburg and Rot-Weiss Essen will play in the 3rd Division next season. Four matchdays before the end of the season, both clubs are only theoretically guaranteed to stay in the league.

However, it remains largely open which league newcomers the Zebras and RWE will face in the coming season. No decisions have yet been made in the second division relegation battle, and of the four promoted teams from the five regional league divisions, only one has been decided so far: Preußen Münster.

A second could be added as early as next weekend. In the Regionalliga Nord, VfB Lübeck is as good as through. The second-placed team is so far ahead of Hannover 96 II that the Lübeck team would have to lose all of its remaining five games, while Hannover would not be allowed to lose any more points and would have to make up 26 goals on top of that. League leader Hamburger SV II will forego promotion.

The season’s final spurt, on the other hand, promises to be exciting in the southwest. SSV Ulm are three points clear at the top of the table, but TSG Hoffenheim II (three points behind) and TSV Steinbach (four) are in pursuit. Both chasers have the better goal difference four matchdays before the end. And in the season finale, the direct duel between Ulm and Steinbach will take place – possibly a decisive one.

The race for the championship in the north-east is even more explosive. Energie Cottbus and Rot-Weiß Erfurt have been engaged in a fierce duel for weeks now and were tied at the top of the table with the same number of points and goals the other day. Then Erfurt failed to score, and last weekend Cottbus dropped points again. The FCE is currently one point ahead. The decision will probably be made in a direct duel on the matchday after next (13 May).

Either way: As is well known, in order to make the leap into the 3rd division, the north-east champions must eliminate the title holders of the Bavarian Regionalliga in the promotion relegation. There is much to suggest that SpVgg Unterhaching will take part in the deciding games. The team of former professional Sandro Wagner leads the league with nine points. Due to financial problems, the Spielvereinigung would have to fulfil conditions.