Wolfsburg Relegated from Bundesliga After 29 Years

After nearly three decades in Germany's top football flight, VfL Wolfsburg's long-standing presence in the Bundesliga has come to an end. The club was officially relegated to the 2. Bundesliga on May 25th, following a playoff defeat against SC Paderborn.

The decisive match saw Paderborn come from behind to secure their place in the top division. Wolfsburg had initially taken the lead early in the second leg through Dženan Pejčinović, but Paderborn responded with goals from Filip Bilbija and Laurin Curda, who scored the winner in extra time. This victory overturned the aggregate score and sent Wolfsburg down.

Wolfsburg's survival in the Bundesliga had been uncertain until the final matchday of the regular season. A crucial 3-1 victory against St. Pauli allowed them to avoid direct relegation and earn a chance to fight for survival in the playoff.

The club's fall from grace is particularly stark given its past successes. Wolfsburg, one of only six clubs to win the Bundesliga title in the 21st century, famously clinched the championship in the 2008/09 season. They also achieved runner-up status in the 2014/15 campaign, the same season they won the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) and the DFL-Supercup, notably defeating Bayern Munich in the latter. Their European campaigns also saw them reach the quarterfinals of both the Champions League and Europa League, and they won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2003.