The outcome was all but sealed on Thursday when the Bavarians won the first leg of this relegation/promotion play-off 3-0, and any doubt was soon dispelled when Christian Eigler and Marek Mintal struck in the first half in front of 46,700 fans at the Frankenstadion.

Cottbus knew they had their work cut out today to preserve their place in the top tier, and mustered the first chance in the third minute but Nurnberg goalkeeper Raphael Schafer made a fingertip save from Jiayi Shao's effort.

The visitors had the better of the early battle in midfield, but could not find the breakthrough.

When the opening goal came just before the half-hour mark, it was at the other end. Mintal fed Eigler, whose left-footed strike found the bottom-right corner of Gerhard Tremmel's net.

Eight minutes later, Nurnberg extended their lead to put the tie firmly out of reach. Mintal capitalised on a mistake by Cottbus defender Mario Cvitanovic, dribbled forwards goal and fired into the bottom-right corner leaving Tremmel helpless.

The second half began with a carnival atmosphere among the home fans and a feeling of resignation among their guests.

Nurnberg frustrated their visitors after the interval by keeping possession as they looked for an unlikely way back.

A stoppage in play for a firework being thrown onto the pitch allowed the Cottbus players time to regroup, but when the game restarted it was only so the two teams could go through the motions.

Neither goalkeeper was tested in the second half, the end of which prompted celebrations for Nurnberg - also home to fellow socceroo Matthew Spiranovic - and heartbreak for Cottbus.