Schalke Return to Bundesliga After 3 Years With Win Over Düsseldorf

Schalke end 2. Bundesliga spell with victory

Kenan Karaman scored his 15th league goal of the season. The club went 12 games unbeaten to go 10 points clear of third.

Unbeaten in 12: Schalke clinch Bundesliga return. Karaman strike seals Schalke’s promotion at Veltins Arena...

Schalke 04 clinched promotion to the Bundesliga on Saturday night, beating Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-0 at the Veltins Arena to end a three-year absence from the top flight.  

The 1-0 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf sealed Schalke’s return to the Bundesliga and closed out a three-season spell in the 2. Bundesliga.  

The win against Fortuna made it 12 league games without defeat for Schalke and opened up a 10-point gap over third-placed Hannover.  

Schalke’s record at home was a standout feature of the season and proved crucial in driving their promotion push.

𝙍𝗔𝗨𝗙 𝗚𝗘𝗛𝗧'𝗦 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗘! #S04 #HOCHMALOCHT pic.twitter.com/dmsdDMvcL3

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) May 2, 2026

Schalke have lost just once at home all season, falling to Holstein Kiel in September. If they avoid defeat against Braunschweig in their final Veltins Arena game, it’ll be their best home record in 20 years.  

Kenan Karaman’s 15th-minute strike, his 15th league goal of the season, put the seven-time German champions on course for a return to the Bundesliga after three years in the 2. Bundesliga.  

Schalke will be confirmed as second division champions if Paderborn fail to beat Elversberg on Sunday.