Now only a relegation curse can stop FC Ingolstadt!

One year after their last-minute trauma, the Schanzer are about to return to the 2nd Bundesliga.

Cheered on by 250 spectators in the home arena, the Ingolstadt team defeated the harmless second division club VfL Osnabrück with 3: 0 (2: 0) in the relegation first leg on Thursday.

After the stoppage time drama 2020 against 1. FC Nürnberg and the failure in 2019, coach Tomas Oral's team, which has now been undefeated for 18 home games, can make the return to the lower house perfectly in the second leg on Sunday (1.30 p.m.).

With a lightning goal from Tobias Schröck (2nd minute) and hits from Fatih Kaya (35th) and substitute Dennis Eckert Ayensa (81st), the Ingolstadt team delighted.

A small fireworks display burned off outside the stadium before kick-off, in their arena the Ingolstadt team were immediately hot and made a dream start.

After a corner from Marc Stendera, Robin Krauße extended with a head and Schröck straddled the ball over the goal line.

The fans cheered.

First shock phase

The Osnabrückers were puzzled - but after this short shock phase they got better and better into the game and had more possession of the ball.

More than one shot at the side netting from an acute angle by Kevin Wolze (13th) made clear the harmlessness of the second division team.

The Schanzer, on the other hand, showed their absolute will and quickly bridged the midfield again and again.

Oral, meanwhile, screamed warm on the sidelines.

"Go on, go on," or "Come on, come on," he called.

After a tough entry, Ingolstadt's captain Stefan Kutschke doubled over on the ground, but Kaya (19th) continued playing and only just missed the left post.

He later made it better: he just had to poke into the goal a template from Filip Bilbija, who was newly added to the team, on the right.

The Osnabrückers came out of the cabin with anger in their stomach - but the offensive actions fizzled out. Coach Markus Feldhoff stood calmly on the sidelines. The Ingolstadt were closely spaced and hardly let the opponents slip through. Osnabrück's Etienne Amenyido (72nd) missed the connection with a bar crash. Joker Eckert Ayensa then even set the acclaimed FCI final point when he coolly lifted the ball into the goal to make it 3-0.