The season of the 2nd Bundesliga, previously described as the best second division in the world, kept what it promised. A breathtaking promotion race captivated fans, spectators and actors alike. The tops, flops, winners and losers at a glance:
What a season! the 2. Bundesliga was dubbed the best second division of all time by many experts and fans. This was partly due to the two Bundesliga teams who were relegated FC Schalke 04 and SV Werder Bremen. Coupled with teams like Hamburger SV or FC St. Pauli, it was clear that it would not be a one-sided race for promotion. But who would have thought that, for example, SSV Jahn Regensburg would be at the top at the beginning, let alone SV Darmstadt 98 would be able to hold out in the promotion race for so long.
On the last day of the Bundesliga 2, four teams were theoretically battling for second and third place. A final sprint by the Hamburg team, who had already been written off by many, coupled with weak phases by the Bremen, Darmstadt and Paulians made the promotion race really exciting again. The fans were offered late hits, dream goals, fighting performances and tight games. One of the most exciting seasons in the German lower house of football ended with a bang and has a clear winner: the fans.
First of all, it should be said: Of course, the two direct promoters Schalke and Werder are also classified under top. In the following, however, the focus is on other teams that are generally less “self-evident” to classify among the winners of this season.
In the pre-season of the 2nd Bundesliga, the lilies came in a good seventh place, but never really had any promotion ambitions. After a change of coach to Torsten Lieberknecht (48) it was unclear how the team would perform. The sticking point were two transfers in particular: Luca Pfeiffer (25) and Phillip Tietz (24). The two strikers are cut from the same cloth: tall, robust, good in the air and finishing.
The Darmstadt system was simple: Pass dangerous balls into the center from the outside, which the two tall strikers (Pfeiffer: 1.96 meters; Tietz: 1.90 meters) should then use. With success: Pfeiffer (17 goals, six assists) and Tietz (15 goals, nine assists) were jointly responsible for 47 goals for Lilien. That makes a participation rate of 66 percent in all goals scored in Darmstadt (71). At first glance, the team seems to have overperformed. Lieberknecht must now ensure that these services are confirmed. Because this performance was by no means to be expected from either Pfeiffer or Tietz. Tietz came in the summer from the 3rd division of SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Pfeiffer from Denmark from FC Midtjylland.
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What Darmstadt “broke its neck” in the end, so to speak, were literally tops and flops. Because with ten losses you conceded by far the most in the promotion quintet, outstanding games (e.g. 4:2 at S04, 4:0 vs. St. Pauli, 3:0 vs. Bremen) alternated too often with sobering performance drops (e.g. 2:5 vs. S04 , 0:5 vs. HSV). Nevertheless, it was a season that every fan and responsible person of the lilies would have signed before the season.
Walter gives HSV a facelift – the team breaks the curse
It was the fourth year for the HSV in the 2nd Bundesliga and almost a sobering one again. Because in the three previous years, the Rothosen gambled away very good starting positions in the last few meters and took the unloved fourth place. After the defeat against Holstein Kiel (0:1) on the 29th matchday, there were many signs of not being promoted again this season. Third place was seven points away. Even with one of your own Final spurt of five victories one had to hope for blunders from the competition. But there was. What played into the hands of HSV were the many direct duels between the competitors, who took points away from each other in the following weeks.
The team of coaches Tim Walter (46) showed morale and did his job, winning the last five games. Including convincing and clear victories against Karlsruhe (4:0) or Ingolstadt (3:0). But it was the narrow victories against Hannover 96 (2:1), Regensburg (4:2) and Hansa Rostock (3:2) that symbolically reflect the season and at the same time the development of the team.
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Walter implanted the belief in his own strength, the fighting spirit if you will, in the heads of his pros. Something that has been questioned and lacked by fans, officials and players in previous years. Walters demanding, risky and offensive system was accepted by the team and consistently carried out. Although there was criticism of the style of play, including within the club, the coach and team stuck to it. Rightly so it seems.
Because statistically the team was strong in many points. Best defense, by far the best goal difference of the promotion aspirants. The many differences alone are a flaw. Twelve draws in number, only KSC has drawn more often (14). That’s also what caused HSV to slide down the table. However, there were also some “dirty” point wins that probably would not have happened in recent years. keyword fighting spirit.
In the Relegation the former Bundesliga Dino now has a chance of promotion in the season finale for the first time in four years. With a broad chest, a lot of self-confidence and a run of five wins in a row, in which the field was practically cleared from behind, you now expect the upcoming opponent Hertha BSC.
Düsseldorf and Sandhausen with a furious second half
at Fortuna Düsseldorf meanwhile the tree burned. After four defeats in a row without scoring their own goals, they were in 16th place in the 2nd Bundesliga at the beginning of February. Only Erzgebirge Aue and FC Ingolstadt were worse off at the time. Curtain up for Daniel Thjoner (47). The former professional, who already coached VfL Osnabrück and HSV in the 2nd Bundesliga, took over at the beginning of February and started an impressive run. For the debut they defeated Schalke 2:1. And they also stole a point against HSV (1-1), and even won against Darmstadt (2-1).
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All in all twelve games remained the team of Thioune undefeated (six wins, six draws) and in the end secured a sovereign and fully deserved relegation. The trainer only had to accept his first defeat on the last day of the game against St. Pauli. Even a massive corona outbreak (14 players and Thioune) could not stop Düsseldorf.
Sandhausen averted a possible relegation from the 2nd Bundesliga with an outstanding second half of the season. Black and white: Sandhausen is in fifth place in the second half of the table. Eight wins face four draws and only five defeats. In the first half of the season, they left the field nine times as losers and were only able to win three. Points against teams that are supposedly stronger on paper such as HSV (1:1), Werder Bremen (1:1) or 1. FC Nuremberg (4:2) and an interim series of seven games without a loss brought the sand houses over the finish line in the end.
Kiel disappointed – Aue got it this year
Now to the less than happy headlines of this Bundesliga 2 season. Holstein Kiel, only failed in the promotion relegation at 1. FC Köln last season, had to struggle with high expectations and could not fulfill them. However, it should not be forgotten that some top performers left the club before the season started. scorer Janni Serra (24) followed the call of Arminia Bielefeld, Jonas Meffert (27) moved to HSV, Jae-Sung Lee (29) moved to FSV Mainz 05.
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In particular, the departures of Lee and Serra could not be compensated. At the front there was a lack of penetrating power, the Jann-Fiete Arp (22), Benedikt Pichler (24) or Kwasi Wriedt (27) could not deliver. The absence of Meffert as the proverbial vacuum cleaner in central midfield was also clearly noticeable. The result was a weak 15th place after the first half of the season and the dismissal of the previous successful coach Ole Werner (34). Marcel Rapp (43) took over and led Kiel, also thanks to an intermediate spurt of six unbeaten games in a row, to a safe and good ninth place in the table. In view of the high expectations in advance, it was still a disappointment.
Düsseldorf manages the feat of being top and flop at the same time. Because the furious second half of the season shouldn’t hide the fact that, after finishing fifth last season, they thought they were in the orbit of those aspiring to promotion. So overall, tenth place should be seen as more of a disappointment than a success. And Nuremberg will also have hoped for more from the season finale. For a long time, the team played for the first three places. However, Nuremberg made too many mistakes in the final sprint.
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Erzgebirge Aue didn’t manage to avoid relegation this year. After the departure of Torgarant and life insurance Pascal Testroet (31) is not surprising, however. After promoted Ingolstadt, the weakest offensive and at the same time the shooting gallery of the league with 72 goals conceded: the numbers speak for themselves.
Beginning makes a mistake
Away from the green turf at the beginning of the season, a protagonist has become the biggest loser of the season. Mark beginning (47) was supposed to lead Werder back to the Bundesliga, but made completely different headlines in November 2021. At that time, the accusation was raised that the coach had knowingly forged his vaccination certificate. He initially denied these allegations, but then resigned from his post as Bremen coach a few days after the allegations were made public. In retrospect and with some distance, the trainer admitted his mistake.
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The DFB suspended him for a year at the beginning of December. “Through their actions, Markus Beginning and Florian Junge violated the role model function as coaches to a considerable extent,” said Hans E. Lorenz, the chairman of the sports court at the time. However, if a club shows interest, Beginning could coach again for the coming season. “In view of their confessions, however, it is justified to suspend part of the ban on probation to give them the opportunity to make a new commitment for the 2022/2023 season.”
An eventful season 2. Bundesliga is behind us now. She kept what she promised beforehand. It doesn’t matter whether HSV is promoted or Hertha has to move up to league two, one thing is certain: next year several teams will be involved in the promotion race. And the relegation battle should also come up with some very unique stories. There will definitely be at least one winner again: Die Fans.
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