Stuttgart, Hannover return to Bundesliga

Berlin - Stuttgart and Hannover 96 will be back in the Bundesliga next season after sealing their promotion from the second division on Sunday.

Stuttgart's 4-1 thrashing of Wurzburger Kickers confirmed them as second division champions, two points clear of Hannover, whose 1-1 draw at Sandhausen was enough to finish ahead of Eintracht Braunschweig.

It is an immediate return to the top flight for Stuttgart and Hannover after both were relegated last season.

Third-placed Braunschweig could still join them in Germany's top flight for the 2017-18 campaign.

Braunschweig faces 2009 German champion Wolfsburg, who finished third from bottom in the Bundesliga, in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off on May 25 and 29.