In the ongoing battle for the Bundesliga, the season of 23/24 has seen 34 matchdays unfold in both the Bundesliga and the 2. Liga. While the champions and the clear promotion and relegation candidates have been determined, two teams are still fighting for a chance to compete at the top next year.
VfL Bochum faces Fortuna Düsseldorf in the first leg of the relegation playoff this Thursday, with the match set to be broadcast live on SAT.1 – a rare treat for fans as Bundesliga matches are usually on Pay-TV channels like Sky and DAZN. How did this happen? SAT.1 acquired a live broadcasting package that includes nine matches per season, featuring the Supercup, games on the 1st, 17th, and 18th matchdays, the opening match of the 2. Bundesliga, and the relegation playoffs.
Düsseldorf’s Christos Tzolis expressed excitement for the upcoming playoff, highlighting the importance of beating a Bundesliga team to secure promotion. Fortuna’s captain, Andre Hoffmann, noted the team’s impressive undefeated streak and the hard work that has brought them to this point. Bochum’s Sports Director, Marc Lettau, remains confident in the team’s ability to turn things around, while VfL coach Heiko Butscher emphasized the need to focus on their game to secure their spot in the top flight. Stay tuned for the thrilling match on Thursday evening at 20:30 in Bochum, which will also be streamed on Sat.1’s platforms and can be followed through live updates on BILD.de.