Before the Bundesliga itself begins on 28 August, Germany’s second tier returns to action tonight with an attractive opening fixture between two traditional clubs: VfL Bochum welcome Hertha BSC. One of the most intriguing games of the opening weekend then follows on Saturday, when VfL Wolfsburg host 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Big names and packed stadiums
The line-up alone gives the league plenty of appeal. Wolfsburg, Kaiserslautern, Nürnberg and Eintracht Braunschweig are all former German champions. They are joined by clubs such as Hertha BSC, Hannover 96, VfL Bochum, Dynamo Dresden and Arminia Bielefeld, all of whom boast large fanbases and considerable top-flight tradition.
The three clubs relegated from the Bundesliga – Wolfsburg, Heidenheim and St. Pauli – are joined by third-tier promotion winners VfL Osnabrück and Energie Cottbus. Schalke 04 and SV Elversberg earned automatic promotion to the Bundesliga last season, while SC Paderborn went up through the relegation play-off at Wolfsburg’s expense.
Why Wolfsburg are the clear favourites
It is hardly surprising that the Wolves are considered the leading candidates for promotion. Wolfsburg spent 29 consecutive years in the Bundesliga, won the German title in 2009 and, until the spring, had a squad built for an entirely different level of competition. Their first relegation from the Bundesliga was only confirmed by a 2-1 extra-time defeat away to SC Paderborn in the second leg of the play-off.
The club responded with a major overhaul. Dieter Hecking moved from his role as emergency head coach into the sporting management structure, while 38-year-old Tobias Strobl arrived from SC Verl as the new head coach.
Wolfsburg also signed one of the best players in the second tier in recent years in Fabian Reese from Hertha BSC. The winger scored ten goals and provided 13 assists last season. Robert Glatzel brings years of experience as a prolific 2. Bundesliga striker, while Hauke Wahl is expected to add leadership and stability to the defence. Fraser Hornby, Elvis Rexhbecaj, Muhammed Damar and goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther were among the other arrivals.
At the same time, Wolfsburg had to part with a number of players following relegation, while several loanees returned to their parent clubs. Austria international Patrick Wimmer, for example, moved to Hoffenheim. Even so, the depth of Wolfsburg’s squad is exceptional by 2. Bundesliga standards. They possess not only the individual quality required to win immediate promotion, but also enough options to cope with a long season. With the transfer window still open until the beginning of September, however, the squad could yet change further.
Hannover ready to make another push
Hannover 96 look like one of Wolfsburg’s most dangerous challengers. The Lower Saxony side remained firmly in the promotion race until the final matchday last season. Going into the last round, Elversberg, Hannover and Paderborn were all level on 59 points. A 3-3 draw against Nürnberg ultimately cost Hannover their chance of promotion, and they finished fourth.
Christian Titz remains in charge, while former HSV executive Jonas Boldt has taken over sporting responsibility. The squad has also been strengthened selectively. Lars Gindorf returned after an impressive season in the third tier with Alemannia Aachen, while goalkeeper Pascal Loretz and centre-back Jean Hugonet were among the other additions. After seven years in the second division, expectations in Hannover are understandably high.
Heidenheim bank on continuity, St. Pauli start again
The other two clubs relegated directly from the Bundesliga also have to be considered in the promotion race. At 1. FC Heidenheim, the most important constant remains unchanged: Frank Schmidt is entering his 19th season as head coach. After three years in the Bundesliga, Heidenheim are once again putting considerable faith in players with room to develop. Marcel Costly arrived after an outstanding season with FC Ingolstadt, while Oualid Mhamdi and Paul Hennrich were also added to the squad.
The changes at FC St. Pauli have been more substantial. Marcel Rapp took over as head coach following relegation, while key leaders Hauke Wahl, Jackson Irvine and Nikola Vasilj departed. In return, the Hamburg club brought in two experienced players in Branimir Hrgota and Marcus Mathisen. St. Pauli still have enough quality to compete in the upper reaches of the table, but first need to establish a new hierarchy within the team.
Hertha lose key players
The situation at Hertha BSC is more complicated. The Berlin club finished seventh last season but lost several important players over the summer. Captain Fabian Reese joined Wolfsburg, Michaël Cuisance moved to RC Lens, first-choice goalkeeper Tjark Ernst signed for Feyenoord and highly rated youngster Kennet Eichhorn left for Bayer Leverkusen.
So far, the list of incoming players is considerably less impressive. Oluwaseun Adewumi arrived on loan from Burnley, while Hertha are otherwise placing considerable faith in returning loanees and players from their own academy. Stefan Leitl’s side are therefore more difficult to assess than they were a year ago.
Kaiserslautern, Darmstadt and Nürnberg among the outsiders
Behind the most prominent contenders are several teams capable of taking advantage if the promotion race opens up. Kaiserslautern spent much of last season within reach of the leading positions and begin their campaign away to favourites Wolfsburg. Darmstadt 98, meanwhile, are another side capable of challenging near the top under Florian Kohfeldt.
1. FC Nürnberg are also worth watching. Miroslav Klose is entering his third season in charge and was handed a new contract in February. Nürnberg continue to rely on a relatively young squad and added Rayan Ghrieb, Fynn Otto and several other young players from Germany and abroad over the summer.
The 2. Bundesliga therefore begins with one clear favourite but no guaranteed script. Wolfsburg have the strongest individual quality and have deliberately recruited players who know the division. Behind them, the margins are far smaller: Hannover, Heidenheim and St. Pauli have legitimate promotion ambitions, while Kaiserslautern, Darmstadt, Nürnberg and potentially Bochum will be looking to put pressure on the leading contenders.
