Never relegated: Hamburg stay in elite club
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
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Hamburger SV preserved their status as the Bundesliga's only ever-presents on Monday – UEFA.com looks at others who have been in their respective top flights for the duration.
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Hamburger SV preserved their record of never having been relegated from the Bundesliga in dramatic fashion on Monday night.
HSV have been in the German top flight throughout its 52-year history but looked set to lose to Karlsruher SC in their relegation play-off. The tie was 1-1 after the first leg, with Karlsruher 1-0 up in the return heading into second-half added time. Hamburg equalised through Marcelo Díaz's free-kick, though, before Nicolai Müller turned in with a penalty shoot-out looming.
They therefore remain among a select group of 13 clubs that have been first-tier ever-presents in the top ten leagues in Europe (based on UEFA coefficient).
Top-flight ever-presents*
Spain: Athletic Club, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF
England: None
Germany: Hamburger SV
Italy: FC Internazionale Milano
Portugal: SL Benfica, FC Porto, Sporting Clube de Portugal
France: None
Russia: FC Dinamo Moskva (including USSR league)
Ukraine:FC Dynamo Kyiv (including USSR league)
Netherlands: AFC Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven
Belgium:None
*This refers only to founder members of the top divisions
