Braunschweig and Saarbrücken set for play-off showdown | OneFootball

Eintracht Braunschweig to face off against Saarbrücken in relegation-promotion play-off

With the Bundesliga 2 season having drawn to a close after an electric final day of action, all the pieces are in place for a nail-biting relegation-promotion play-off between Bundesliga 2 side Eintracht Braunschweig and 3. Liga outfit Saarbrücken.

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As has been the case since the play-off’s reintroduction in 2008/09, the side that finishes in 16th place in the Bundesliga 2 faces off against the third-placed finishers in the third division to decide who gets to compete in the second division ahead of the coming season.

This year, the play-off will feature two historic clubs that have toiled in the lower leagues for many years now: Daniel Scherning’s Eintracht Braunschweig and Alois Schwartz’s Saarbrücken.

The tie's first-leg takes place at Saarbrücken’s Ludwigsparkstadion on Friday 23 May, with the reverse fixture set for the Eintracht-Stadion on Tuesday 27 May.

After three seasons spent in Bundesliga 2, having yo-yoed between the second and third divisions for a number of years, Braunschweig must now fight to protect their Bundesliga 2 status against a Saarbrücken side with a reputation for showing up in big games.

Scherning will be hoping that his talismanic French forward Rayan Philippe will be on form to add to his already impressive haul of 13 goals and six assists this season.

Saarbrücken may not have had a taste of second division football since their appearance in the Bundesliga 2 in 2005/06, however, they will by no means consider themselves underdogs off the back of an impressive 3. Liga campaign.

Over the course of the season, they have shown they have a winners' mentality, going unbeaten in 13 league games between October and February earlier in the season. Top scorer Kai Brünker led the line, grabbing a very respectable 11 goals, though they have been a team that has tended to share the goals around.

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