Cottbus, Germany  - Nuremberg won 3-0 at Energie Cottbus in the first leg of a Bundesliga playoff tie on Thursday to all but assure themselves of a return into the top flight.

Isaac Boakye scored in the 12th and 89th, Christian Eigler was also on target in the 55th, and Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer made several good saves to assure the victory.

The two sides meet again on Sunday, where then hosts Nuremberg aimn to complete their return into the Bundesliga after one season in the second division.

Cottbus appear doomed to relegation after three years in the Bundesliga which would mean that no team from former East Germany is left in the top flight next season. Nuremberg finished third in the second division and Cottbus were third-from-last in the Bundesliga.

SC Freiburg and Mainz 05 are already promoted while Arminia Bielefeld and SC Karlsruhe made the drop. (dpa)