Cologne returns to the Bundesliga as second division champion
First-half goals from Eric Martel and Luca Waldschmidt, and two more from Florian Kainz and Mark Uth in the second, lifted Cologne two points above Hamburger SV, which slumped to a 3-2 loss at Greuther Fürth in its first game since clinching promotion the weekend before.
The top two are automatically promoted to the top division, while Elversberg, which finished third, will face Heidenheim in a two-leg playoff to determine which side will play in the Bundesliga next season. Heidenheim finished third from bottom in the top division on Saturday.
Cologne's promotion after one season in the second division rewards the club's management for bringing back Friedhelm Funkel as coach for the final two games after the team failed to win its previous two.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Saints reportedly in talks with Still's former club over deal for Guilavogui
SAINTS have reportedly opened talks with Will Still's former club, RC Lens, over a deal for forward Morgan Guilavogui. Guinea international Guilavogui is a right winger who can also play off the left and through the middle. He spent last season on loan at Bundesliga side St. Pauli, where he impressed. The 27 year old scored six goals for the recently promoted side as they finished 14th, seven points clear of automatic relegation. Fabrizio Romano has reported that negotiations are under way between the two clubs, but no agreement has been reached. The future of Southampton's right side is uncertain, with the club already rejecting bids for Tyler Dibling, while Sam Edozie appears destined to leave. Saints started their opening Championship fixture with Ryan Fraser on the right wing before moving him to wing-back, allowing for Mateus Fernandes to start at Ipswich. French-born forward Guilavogui played a full 90 minutes as Lens lost 1-0 to Lyon on the opening weekend of Ligue 1. St Pauli had exercised a purchase clause in their loan agreement with Lens before the French side used their buy-back option this summer. He initially joined Lens from Paris FC after firing 26 Ligue 2 goals in 63 appearances for the capital club across two seasons.
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
FIFA RIVALS AND BORUSSIA DORTMUND ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO POWER NEXT-GEN DIGITAL FAN ENGAGEMENT
FIFA Rivals, the high-energy mobile football game from FIFA and Mythical Games, today proudly announced a multi-year partnership with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, bringing the iconic German club into its digital arena. The collaboration marks FIFA Rivals' first official club partnership and signifies a major step forward in the game's expansion across key football markets, while also introducing next-generation fan engagement to the global football community. As part of the partnership, gamers and fans can expect exclusive BVB content, digital collectibles, and experiences both in-game and in real life, throughout the 2025/26 season, including: Dortmund Players In-Game: Current select players including, Karim Adeyemi, Serhou Guirassy, Nico Schlotterbeck, Gregor Kobel, Jobe Bellingham, Yan Couto, and Daniel Svensson Official In-Game Collectible Items: Kits will be available in FIFA Rivals starting in August, allowing gamers to collect them. Fan Rewards and Giveaways: FIFA Rivals will host giveaways and challenges offering rewards such as in-game BVB collectibles, matchday tickets, and physical BVB merchandise. IRL Activations: Future activations with BVB, including those at BVB's FanWelt. 'Our partnership with Borussia Dortmund is a strategic step in expanding FIFA Rivals' global footprint and deepening our engagement within the European football ecosystem,' said Jung Suh, Chief Business Officer at Mythical Games. 'BVB's global brand, forward-thinking approach, and commitment to fan experience make them an ideal partner as we continue to bridge the worlds of interactive entertainment and sport. 'We are excited about our partnership with FIFA Rivals. It creates a unique bridge between the digital and real worlds, enabling us to connect with our fans around the world in innovative ways. Borussia Dortmund stands for passion, community, and innovation – values that align perfectly with this project,' said BVB Managing Director Carsten Cramer. As the world's first mobile football game to integrate digital ownership and player-powered economies, FIFA Rivals continues to redefine the football gaming experience for a new generation of fans. To kick off the partnership, FIFA Rivals will host a special BVB Launch Giveaway Week from August 18–24, where all new and existing players can log in daily to receive a free BVB player card pack, featuring select first-team stars (no purchase necessary). Rivals players can also claim a new official Borussia Dortmund Emblem to customize their team. Additional exclusive emblems with stat boosts will be available in the in-game store during this limited-time event. FIFA Rivals is available now on the App Store and Google Play Store, with more BVB-focused content launching this year. About Mythical Games Acknowledged by Fast Company's World Changing Ideas 2021 and recently Forbes' Best Startup Employers (2024), Mythical Games is a next-generation game company creating world-class games and empowering players to take ownership of their in-game assets through the use of blockchain technology. The team has helped develop major franchises, including Call of Duty, Call of Duty Mobile, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Magic: The Gathering, EA Madden, Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery, Marvel Strike Force, Modern Warfare 3, and Skylanders. Mythical's current games Blankos Block Party and NFL Rivals are already played by millions of consumers worldwide and create a new economy for players allowing them to engage in a new way with games but also directly trade and transact safely with other players worldwide. The Mythical Marketplace, the first in-game blockchain Marketplace on iOS and Android, provides gamers with ownership and control over the purchase and sale of digital assets, while the Mythical Platform protects gamers that may be new to blockchain through a custodial wallet for their digital items. Borussia Dortmund is one of the most traditional and popular German football clubs. Founded in 1909, BVB boasts more than 10 million fans within Germany and, in addition, also looks to a rapidly growing fan base worldwide. The eight-time German champions and five-time DFB-Pokal winner was in 1966 the first German club to win a European Cup competition. BVB also became the first Bundesliga club to win the UEFA Champions League in 1997, followed by the Intercontinental Cup in the same year. With a turnover of over 500 million Euro, Borussia Dortmund nowadays is also one of the economically strongest football clubs in the world. Contact
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen knocked back in wonderkid chase! Monaco reject opening bid for Eliesse Ben Seghir as Borussia Dortmund consider rival bid
Monaco demand higher fee for starlet Dortmund monitoring winger's transfer situation Leverkusen's opening offer falls short Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? Bayer Leverkusen have had their opening offer for AS Monaco starlet Eliesse Ben Seghir turned down, with the French club demanding a significantly higher fee, according to Fabrizio Romano. Leverkusen reportedly tabled a bid worth around €25 million (£21m/$29m), but Monaco are holding firm for a figure closer to €35m (£30m/$41m)-40m (£34m/$46m). THE BIGGER PICTURE The 20-year-old winger, regarded as one of Ligue 1's brightest prospects, has also attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, who have made contact in the past 24 hours to monitor the situation. While Leverkusen's opening proposal matched Ben Seghir's current market valuation, Monaco remain reluctant to sell on the cheap, with French outlets confirming that they expect a premium for their highly-rated Moroccan talent. His future at Monaco is growing increasingly uncertain after limited playing time, a shaky preseason, and strained relations with coach Adi Hutter. Leverkusen view him as a direct replacement for Amine Adli, who is set to join Bournemouth, while Dortmund are considering him as part of their midfield rebuild. With two Bundesliga giants circling, Monaco are bracing for further bids before the window closes. TELL ME MORE Ben Seghir's emergence at Monaco was one of Ligue 1's standout stories last season, but his momentum has stalled badly in recent months. Coming off the bench in the season opener against Le Havre, he failed to leave a mark, raising further doubts over his role under Hutter. Dortmund, meanwhile, are weighing whether to rival B04's bid in what could become one of the Bundesliga's late-window transfer battles. WHAT NEXT FOR BEN SEGHIR? Leverkusen are expected to return soon with an improved offer as they look to close the gap to Monaco's valuation, while Dortmund will remain in the loop and could launch their own bid if talks stall. With the player keen on a move and Monaco reluctant to sell below €35m (£30m/$41m), the next few days could prove decisive for his future.
