![Third League squad, Energie Cottbus, currently languishing in fifth position. [Picture Included]](/en/img/2025/05/09/1357965/jpeg/4-3/1200/75/image-description.webp)
Time's Ticking for Energie Cottbus: Rostock's Triumph Takes Aim
Energy Cottbus Harmed by Hansa-Sieg - The success of the Hanseatic faction in the energy sector is unfavorable
The dreams of promotion for Energie Cottbus are hung by a thread, thanks to a bitter 2:0 loss by Hansa Rostock against SpVgg Unterhaching. This setback pushes Cottbus down to fifth in the 3. Bundesliga, as Rostock moves up to fourth, snagging 60 points, one ahead of Cottbus (59).
Hovering over the Lausitzer are the leading teams: Dynamo Dresden (67), Arminia Bielefeld (66), and 1. FC Saarbrücken (62). The remaining contenders for the third spot, granting entry to the relegation playoffs against the 16th team in the 2. Bundesliga, is none other than Saarbrücken.
Energie Cottbus must now pull off a win in Rostock on Saturday (14:00) and secure three more points in the season finale on May 17 (13:30) against FC Ingolstadt. A push from Saarbrücken in the final stretch would also work wonders.
The stakes are high for Cottbus, as finishing fifth would mean no promotion and a missed opportunity to compete in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, which the top four 3. Bundesliga contenders secure automatically.
- Energie Cottbus
- Cottbus
- Rostock
- Unterhaching
- Bayern
- Hansa Rostock
- SpVgg Unterhaching
Behind the Scenes
As of the latest updates (early May 2025), the current standings in the 3. Bundesliga are as follows:- Dynamo Dresden: Ranked 1st.- Arminia Bielefeld: Ranked 2nd.- 1. FC Saarbrücken: Ranked 3rd.- Hansa Rostock: Ranked 4th.[1][2][4]Energie Cottbus finds itself in fifth place.
The promotion rules in the 3. Bundesliga dictate that the top two teams secure automatic promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. The team finishing third enters a playoff against the team that finishes third from the bottom (16th place) in the 2. Bundesliga. The winner gains the right to play in the 2. Bundesliga the following season.[3]
Although the specific qualification rules for the DFB-Pokal from the 3. Bundesliga are not detailed in the promotion rules, the top teams in the league can potentially qualify if they aren't directly promoted to a higher division. Additionally, regional cup winners gain entry into the DFB-Pokal.[5]
- Energie Cottbus' promotion hopes are slim, as they trail Hansa Rostock by a single point following Rostock's victory over SpVgg Unterhaching.
- With Energie Cottbus set to face Rostock this Saturday, the Lausitzer will need a win to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
- The Bundesliga's second division, 2. Bundesliga, awaits the third-placed team from the 3. Bundesliga, currently occupied by 1. FC Saarbrücken.
- As Cottbus scrambles for promotion, they must also contend with the looming threat of Bayern, who could potentially qualify for the DFB-Pokal through regional cup victories.
