The start of the new season in the 2. Bundesliga is just around the corner. The German lower house is already in its 51st season, but it has never been so attractive. How will the big teams like HSV, 1. FC Köln or Schalke 04 fare? Who can hope for a promotion spot? What about the relegation battle?
Here comes the 90min-Forecast for the table of the 2. Bundesliga after the 34th matchday.
Steffen Baumgart / Stuart Franklin/GettyImages
If not now, when? This motto has rarely been more fitting for Hamburger SV than it was before this season. The Red Shorts appear to be well prepared for their seventh consecutive year in the second division and, in Steffen Baumgart, they have a coach on the sidelines who can be trusted to get them promoted.
Even though Robert Glatzel and Davie Selke will probably miss the start of the season, HSV has probably the best double leadership in the league. However, it remains unclear how much of an impact the departures of Laszlo Benes and Ignace Van der Brempt will have and whether HSV will miss the spring again.
Table placement 23/24: 4. Platz
1. FC Cologne / Christof Koepsel/GettyImages
Shortly after relegation, it was not necessarily expected that 1. FC Cologne would be one of the big favorites for promotion. During the summer break, however, the dark doom scenarios were transformed into Cologne optimism.
This is partly due to the positive impression made by the new coach Gerhard Struber, but above all to the retention of numerous regular players such as Eric Martel, Florian Kainz and Timo Hübers, who will be among the big stars in the 2nd division.
However, due to the strong competition, promotion is anything but a sure thing, especially since Davie Selke was lost in attack and could not be replaced due to the transfer ban. In addition, things could quickly become unsettled in Cologne if the start of the season goes badly.
Table placement 23/24: 17th place (Bundesliga)
Fortuna Düsseldorf / Catherine Ivill – AMA/GettyImages
Fortuna failed in a relegation match that was already as good as won after the first leg. So Düsseldorf have to make another attempt to finally make it back to the top division.
Fortuna is certainly one of the favorites again this season, but they have lost Christos Tzolis, probably the best player of the past season, who will be hard to replace. Ao Tanaka could also leave by the end of August.
Nevertheless, we believe that Fortuna can make it to the relegation round again. And maybe they can play two good games there.
Table ranking 23/24: 3. Platz
Hertha BSC / Maja Hitij/GettyImages
After being relegated from the Bundesliga, Hertha had to spend a long time recovering in the second division and ended up in the middle of the table. Now, with a strong squad and a new coach, they are looking to move up. Cristian Fiel’s team can be expected to do well.
While only one important player, Bence Dardai, has been let go so far, the Old Lady has strengthened itself with interesting names such as Diego Demme, Michael Cuisance and Kevin Sessa, which has boosted the euphoria for the new season. However, it is unclear what the future holds for the injured Fabian Reese.
In the end, Hertha narrowly missed out on promotion because they lacked the necessary consistency.
Table ranking 23/24: 9. Platz
Hannover 96 / Stuart Franklin/GettyImages
Hannover 96 has had a decent season and now it’s time to build on that. After the decision about Martin Kind, the biggest off-field issue of the summer, the transfers of Jannik Rochelt, Josh Knight, Jessic Ngankam and Hyun-ju Lee were almost forgotten.
It remains to be seen whether the departures of Cedric Teuchert and Louis Schaub can be compensated for. But thanks to the retention of the experienced pillars Ron-Robert Zieler and Marcel Halstenberg, the 96ers should be well prepared.
This season, Hannover was even in contention for promotion for a long time, but ultimately came away empty-handed.
Table ranking 23/24: 6. Platz
FC Schalke 04 / Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/GettyImages
After being relegated from the Bundesliga, FC Schalke played a terrible second division season for a long time, which was also accompanied by internal unrest. The result was a shake-up in the summer, which means that the Knappen are difficult to predict before the season.
With Karel Geraerts on the sidelines, things could be a lot calmer after promising transfers this season. Schalke will want to compete for the top third of the table next season – and will achieve this. Royal Blue will end up in sixth place, but will not have quite as much to do with promotion.
Table ranking 23/24: 10. Platz
Lukas Kwasniok / Oliver Hardt/GettyImages
Although SC Paderborn regularly plays at the top, likes to score a lot of goals and often likes to annoy the big teams, the East Westphalians are not on the list of most people.
Lukas Kwasniok’s team has the potential to cause a big surprise. The return of Sven Michel and the transfer of Felix Götze make us excited for the new season.
In the end, as in the previous season, the team finished seventh in the table, which everyone in Paderborn was happy with.
Table ranking 23/24: 7. Platz
Torsten Lieberknecht / Cathrin Mueller/GettyImages
Direct relegation from the Bundesliga was to be expected for Darmstadt 98 and it will be just as difficult to get promoted again straight away. After the clear relegation, however, at least some regular players like Schuhen, Holland and Bader have stayed, alongside coach Torsten Lieberknecht.
The Lilies will probably feel much more comfortable in the 2nd division than in the Bundesliga and will end the season in a secure mid-table position. But to do that, they must first shake off the bitter previous season.
Table ranking 23/24: 18th place (Bundesliga)
Christian Eichner / Christian Kaspar-Bartke/GettyImages
Karlsruher SC had to part with a number of experienced players such as Lars Stindl, Jerome Gondorf and Daniel Brosinski, meaning they will now lack experience. However, the fact that coach Christian Eichner, who had other options than KSC, will remain gives the Baden team hope.
Nevertheless, the fifth place from the previous season will hardly be maintained, as the significantly rejuvenated squad must first find its feet.
Table ranking 23/24: 5. Platz
Alexander Zorniger / Alex Grimm/GettyImages
Coach Alexander Zorniger has impressively demonstrated last season that he is very good at dealing with young players. However, as talented and important regular players such as Jonas Urbig, Tim Lemperle and Robert Wagner were only on loan, the club had to look for new players in the summer.
It remains to be seen whether the newly signed youngsters can replace the top performers from last season. In the end, the team could once again end up in the middle of the table.
Table ranking 23/24: 8. Platz
Miroslav Klose / Christian Kaspar-Bartke/GettyImages
With Miroslav Klose, FCN has signed a very prominent name, but also a big surprise package as a new coach. The departure of super talent Can Uzun was painful, but was made up for by promising new signings such as Robin Knoche and Danilo Soares.
The successful preparation with the dress rehearsal win against Juventus Turin (3:0) has sparked euphoria in Franconia. In the end, however, it will be difficult to achieve more than a mid-table position.
Table ranking 23/24: 12. Platz
1. FC Kaiserslautern / Christian Kaspar-Bartke/GettyImages
The surprising cup finalist had to worry about staying in the league until the end, but was then rescued by Friedhelm Funkel. In the new season, the team should at least move up the table a little.
With Jannik Mause, FCK signed the third division top scorer of the last season and has so far been able to keep other top performers such as Ragnar Ache and captain Marlon Ritter.
The Red Devils should not have much to worry about relegation in the new season.
Table ranking 23/24: 13. Platz
Eintracht Braunschweig / Christof Koepsel/GettyImages
After a miserable first half of the season, Eintracht Braunschweig was able to save itself, as the second half of the year looked much better. After a major upheaval in the summer, Daniel Scherning and his completely revamped squad will once again be primarily concerned with staying in the league.
In the end, Eintracht managed to get back above the relegation zone and even played a somewhat more solid season than last year.
Table ranking 23/24: 15. Platz
Preussen Muenster / Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto/GettyImages
Of the three promoted teams, Preußen Münster is probably the most likely to be successful. The 34-goal duo Malik Batmaz and Joel Grodowski have been retained, which promises a few goals in the second division as well.
If the defense can keep up, the Prussians can look forward to a quiet season. New signing Jorrit Hendrix, who previously played in the Champions League with PSV Eindhoven, is expected to provide the necessary stability.
Table ranking 23/24: 2nd place (3rd league)
SV Elversberg / Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/GettyImages
Even in tranquil Elversberg, they will have to contend with the famous ‘cursed second year’. A confident eleventh place from the previous season will hardly be repeated, after the SVE began to weaken in the second half of the season. In addition, two important regular players, Paul Wanner and Jannik Rochelt, had to leave.
Despite being an underdog, Elversberg will leave three teams behind in the coming season.
Table ranking 23/24: 11. Platz
Christian Titz / Simone Arveda/GettyImages
Despite high expectations, 1. FC Magdeburg only managed to finish 14th in the league table, which meant that important players such as Daniel Elfadli and captain Amara Condé were dismissed. FCM now relied partly on creative transfers from abroad, who may still have to get used to the team.
Magdeburg is once again facing a turbulent season, which in the worst case scenario could even end in relegation. In the end, the blue-whites will go into the relegation round.
Table ranking 23/24: 14. Platz
SSV Ulm 1846 / Leonhard Simon/GettyImages
After the direct march from the Regional League to the 2nd League, SSV Ulm will naturally only be concerned with staying in the league. With Leo Scienza, only one regular player was let go, but the top scorer from the promotion squad was lost. It will hardly be possible for the new talents to replace him.
Although the Sparrows are capable of a surprise, in the end they might not have the means to make it over the line.
Table ranking 23/24: 1st place (3rd league)
Jahn Regensburg / Alex Grimm/GettyImages
The victory in the relegation match against Wiesbaden enabled SSV Jahn to return to the 2nd league – but it will be difficult to stay there. Although the promotion squad was largely kept together and some members were well supplemented, a poor preparation did not lead to much euphoria.
Relegation cannot be ruled out by any means, but would still be considered a surprise.
Table ranking 23/24: 3rd place (3rd league)
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