Fürth beats Düsseldorf 3:0 and saves itself in the relegation

SpVgg Greuther Fürth prevented a direct drop on the last matchday of the 2. Bundesliga, but missed out on complete salvation. With the 3:0 at Sportpark Ronhof | Thomas Sommer against Fortuna Düsseldorf, the Cloverleaf held on to 16th place – more was not possible despite the clear home win, because Arminia Bielefeld turned its parallel match around significantly in the second half. Fürth must now play in the relegation against Rot-Weiss Essen, Düsseldorf is confirmed as relegated.

Lightning start and early preliminary decision

Fürth aimed for clear conditions from the start – and got them. Felix Klaus scored the lead after less than two minutes. The 2:0 came in the 16th minute, when Düsseldorf defender Elias Egouli deflected a shot from Klaus into his own net, making it unstoppable. Before the break, Noel Futkeu increased the score to 3:0 with a header after a Klaus cross (36th minute) – it was his 19th goal of the season.

With the halftime score, Fürth's core task was fulfilled: The team had not only won the direct duel with a competitor, but dominated it and thus secured at least the relegation spot. At halftime, Fürth was in 16th place in the table, also because Bielefeld was trailing 0:1 against Hertha BSC at that time. Hertha is coached by Stefan Leitl – Fürth's promotion coach from 2021, whom many fans at Ronhof were reminded of that day anyway.

VAR intervenes – sporting decision falls elsewhere

After the break, Fürth remained present and could have extended the result further, but two scenes tipped towards "close, but not countable." In the 63rd minute, referee Harm Osmers initially awarded a penalty for Fürth, but withdrew the decision after a video review because Branimir Hrgota had been offside in the build-up. In the 73rd minute, another goal by Futkeu was disallowed after review: when Jannik Dehm provided the assist, his toe was millimeters offside; Pascal Müller was the video assistant referee.

The fact that it remained 3:0 changed little about Fürth's task at first – but did affect the table calculation. While Fürth calmly finished its game, Bielefeld turned the match around and won 5:1 in the end. Thus it was clear: Fürth could save itself into the relegation with this win, but could no longer force direct survival – regardless of how confident its own performance was.

Düsseldorf relegated – Fürth gets a second chance

For Fortuna Düsseldorf, the defeat meant relegation. Fürth, on the other hand, at least earned the extra matches, which in a season that has recently been turbulent off the pitch as well, feel like a reprieve: After the dismissal of sporting CEO Rachid Azzouzi in 2024 and several coaching changes, the club faltered, and an online petition to the supervisory board and presidency recently attracted additional attention. Parts of the fans are demanding the removal of those responsible for sports, Holger Schwiewagner (CEO) and Stephan Fürstner (sporting director). At the stadium, supporters also demonstratively showed support – among other things with a banner: "We fans are the soul of Spielvereinigung Fürth".

Sportingly, the finding of this afternoon remains: Fürth delivered in the decisive match, decided early and kept Düsseldorf behind. The team must now secure its final stay in the 2. Bundesliga in the relegation against Rot-Weiss Essen – in a week that will become the next final for the club. It is also certain that goal scorer Noel Futkeu will leave the club after the season and move to Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.