GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany, May ⁠2 (Reuters) - Schalke 04 battled past Fortuna Duesseldorf ⁠1-0 on Saturday to secure promotion to the ‌Bundesliga after a three-year absence.

The Ruhr valley club, whose average attendance per match in the second division this season was ​more than 60,000 -- bigger than ⁠most Bundesliga clubs -- will ⁠return to top-flight football following their relegation in ⁠2023.