There are only seven more game days to go in the 2nd Bundesliga, and the critical phase is beginning. Seven clubs still have realistic chances of promotion to the top flight – including the traditional clubs Werder Bremen, Schalke 04 and Hamburger SV. However, FC St. Pauli will start the final games of the season from pole position. The neighborhood club is currently at the top of the table with 51 points and wants to return to the Bundesliga for the first time since the 2010/11 season. Bremen are tied in second place, followed by Darmstadt 98 (48 points), Schalke (47), 1. FC Nürnberg (46), Hamburg (42, one game less) and 1. FC Heidenheim (42).
advertisement
–
Strong nerves are required to be on a direct promotion spot on match day 34. Friedhelm Funkel is someone who knows what is needed in the fight for the House of Lords. In his coaching career, the 68-year-old has been promoted to the Bundesliga six times – more often than any other coach. He managed this feat twice with Bayer Uerdingen (1992 and 1994) and once each with MSV Duisburg (1996), 1. FC Köln (2003), Eintracht Frankfurt (2005) and most recently with Fortuna Düsseldorf (2018). In conversation with the SPORTBUZZER, the record promotion coach took a closer look at this year’s candidates – and named his favourites.
–
1.FC Heidenheim (7th place, 42 points, 34:35 goals)
The Heidenheimers have by far the worst goal difference of all promotion candidates and are already six points behind the relegation place. “That’s quite a deficit,” says Funkel. “I don’t think they can still intervene in the promotion battle.” The work of Frank Schmidt, who has been working as an FCH trainer since 2007, “cannot be overestimated”, says Funkel.
–
Hamburger SV (6th place, 42 points, 46:27)
Due to the recent setbacks, HSV has lost touch with the promotion places a little. Coach Tim Walter’s team still has the catch-up game against Erzgebirge Aue (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.) in hand and could close the gap. Nevertheless, it recently seemed as if the North Germans were running out of breath in the crucial phase. Friedhelm Funkel still relies on the Hanseatic League. “I believe in HSV,” he says: “They now have two home games against Paderborn and Aue, so of course they need six points. If they can do that, it’s their turn again.” In addition, Sonny Kittel must “find his form again, he is the outstanding player at HSV”, says Funkel and adds: “I have the feeling that Tim Walter will get this team back on track and that HSV will end up third or second.”
–
1.FC Nuremberg (table position 5, 46 points, 40:34)
1. FC Nürnberg has quietly and secretly worked its way into the top group of the 2nd Bundesliga and is only two points behind the relegation place in the middle of the fight for promotion. However, almost nobody really has the Franconians on the list. “So they could cause the big surprise,” says Funkel: “It’s impressive how quiet it has become in Nuremberg, it wasn’t usually like that. That’s the merit of Dieter Hecking.” “Nevertheless”explains the 68-year-old, “I think it won’t be enough in the end. Of course, in the fight for promotion you also need a real nine, which usually scores 15 to 18 goals. The club doesn’t have that.” Erik Shuranov is currently the best Nuremberg goalscorer with six goals this season.
–
FC Schalke 04 (4th place, 47 points, 54:33)
Schalke 04 won the two games after the dismissal of coach Dimitrios Grammozis. With these six points, the Gelsenkircheners have advanced to fourth place, the gap to the relegation place is only one point. Grammozis successor Mike Büskens has “kindled a bit of euphoria,” says Funkel. “He probably has a slightly different speech than Dimi (Grammozis, Anm. d. Red.), is very experienced. In addition, he let the team play with a back four again, which I think is very good for them.” Overall, Schalke “have a really great squad at their disposal, you just have to say that.” In the last seven games, the Royal Blues still have five duels with direct rivals on the program. In the home stadium it’s still against Heidenheim, Bremen and St. Pauli; away you still have to play in Darmstadt and Nuremberg. “They have everything in their own hands,” said Funkel. In home games they would also “Being pushed by 60,000 fans”. “Because of this”explains the record promotion coach, “I think Schalke will end the season in second or third place.”
–
Darmstadt 98 (3rd place, 48 points, 53:34)
Before the international break, the lilies lost the top game at Werder Bremen 1-0. The early red card against Klaus Gjasula turned the game upside down and finally put SVW on the road to victory. Coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team lost the lead in the standings that day and slipped down to third place. Of course, Darmstadt still has every chance in the fight for promotion, but this bankruptcy was extremely painful. But: “They have always come back after setbacks and have put up with a 5-0 loss against HSV,” says Funkel. “Torsten’s work is sensational, the club is in a good position.” However, Funkel does not believe that at the end of the season a place in the top three will be enough: “I suspect that they will run out of breath a bit in the back.”
–
Werder Bremen (2nd place, 51 points, 51:36)
Since Ole Werner took over the Bremer at the end of November 2021, things have been going uphill. On average, the coach scored an amazing 2.58 points per game with SVW and took them almost to the top from the gray midfield. Only St. Pauli is ahead of Werder thanks to a slightly better goal difference. However, one thing is clear: Bremen are currently the team with the best form in the 2nd division and have a high-quality squad. “In Marvin Ducksch and Niclas Füllkrug they have two players who are good for goals in every game,” says Funkel. Leonardo Bittencourt could also be a difference player. “For this reason”so sparkle, “I think Bremen’s streak will continue. Ole Werner is doing it fantastically. I suspect they will move up as top of the table.”
–
FC St. Pauli (1st place in the table, 51 points, 53:37)
FC St. Pauli will start the last seven games of the season from the top of the table. The Kiezklub recovered after difficulties at the beginning of the second half of the season and jumped back to first place with a 1-0 win against Heidenheim before the international break. However, the seven-point lead they had in third place at the end of the first half of the season is gone. Nevertheless, St. Pauli is playing “a really good season,” says Funkel. The year 2021 in particular was “incredibly good”. “However, this team is too dependent on Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, who was now back with the national team. At the beginning of the second half of the season, things didn’t go well when he was injured,” says Funkel. “In spite of all appreciation”the 68-year-old continues, “I don’t think St. Pauli will make the top three.”
–
–
