Hamburg have earned promotion back to the Bundesliga to end a seven-year absence from the German top flight.Needing a win to confirm their return, the six-time German champions thrashed Ulm 6-1 at home on Saturday and fans engulfed the pitch at the Volksparkstadion at the final whistle to celebrate.

Six-time German champions Hamburg SV earned a triumphant promotion back to the Bundesliga after a seven-year absence, with Saturday's 6-1 demolition of Ulm guaranteeing them a top two finish in the second division with a game left to play.

Former European champions SV Hamburg stormed back into the Bundesliga after seven agonising years in the second division with an emphatic 6-1 triumph over now relegated Ulm. Ulm led from Tom Gaal in the seventh minute but their fate was effectively sealed when after Ludovit Reis had levelled in the 10th they failed to convert a penalty from Selim Telalovic in the 36th.