Football – who rises from the 2nd Bundesliga?

The Hamburger SV finally made it back to the Bundesliga after seven years, in which he was always considered a top favorite for climbing. The 1. FC Köln is also back in the upper house. But which teams now fill the vacuum that the big clubs leave? Before the start of the season, four teams crystallize as promising candidates for the ascent.

Hertha BSC: With Reese back to the Beletage?

It will arrive on Fabian Reese. The fans were pleasantly surprised when their star player extended his contract in May and made it clear: he remains – although teams from the Bundesliga and abroad had repeatedly shown interest in him. In addition to Reese’s leadership, Hertha benefits primarily from its torrier. The 27-year-old scored eleven hits last season-in just 18 games. Almost the entire first half of the season missed Reese. If he stays fit this season, he could become a clerk.

Next to him in the storm, David Kownacki is supposed to provide goals. The Pole comes from Werder Bremen and was loaned to Fortuna Düsseldorf last year. There he was last involved in 18 goals. Maurice Krattenmacher could start behind the two storm tips. The playmaker came loan from FC Bayern and already caused a sensation at his last station, in Ulm. In preparation, he and Reese already flashed how they could harmonize on the pitch in the future.

The Hertha, on the other hand, left the Ibrahim Maza and Derry Sherhann’s own plants. Maza, who switched to Bayer Leverkusen for 12 million euros, will be missing. In total, the squad still seems stronger than in the previous year. Coach Stefan Leitl, who took over his office in winter, was able to stabilize the team in the second half of the season and is researching for the new season: »If you work at a club like Hertha BSC, the incentive must always be the maximum in the league in which we are. And that means that the way back to the Bundesliga has to lead. “

Conclusion: Hertha goes to the new second division season as a top favorite.

Fortuna Düsseldorf: Klaus Allofs calls for the climb

“Fortuna Düsseldorf wants to climb,” said sports director Klaus Allofs clearly and clearly the season goal for the coming season. Coach Daniel Thioune agreed with his boss: “This is definitely the goal, we don’t have to talk about it.” The 51-year-old has been with Fortuna since February 2022-and wants to return tactically to the roots of his early days. That means: more pressing and more high ball gains. His team is said to be more active against the ball again after Thioune changed his system last season. “We didn’t have the players for it,” he said.

Midfield newcomer Anouar El Azzouzi has now been hired for this type of game. The 24-year-old came from the Dutch first division club Pec Zwoll for 1.5 million euros and has his strengths, especially in the game against the ball. He takes the place of ísak Jóhannesson in midfield, who left Fortuna for 1. FC Köln. In addition to him, Christian Rasmussen is one of the most exciting transfers from the Düsseldorf. The Dane came to Düsseldorf from Ajax Amsterdam and is supposed to revitalize the Fortuna offensive.

In the defense, not only the German U21 international Jannik Siebert was able to be held, but Christopher Lenz von Eintracht Frankfurt is also hired for the left defensive side. The 30-year-old, who won the Europa League with Frankfurt 2022, is supposed to strengthen the team with his experience.

The departures of Kownacki and Jóhannesson hurt the club. Both were among the best and most important players in the team in the previous year. It will be shown how quickly the newcomers can compensate for the loss of the two. Daniel Thioune’s teams often played good seasons, but the consistency was mostly missing. The trainer has to get this under control to achieve the goal of the ascent.

Conclusion: Düsseldorf will attack the top, but the ascent could come too early this year – apart from the new additions.

VfL Bochum: Is it going up again?

Dieter Hecking calmed the club after his takeover in the previous year, but could no longer prevent VfL Bochum’s descent. The 60-year-old brings the experience of 626 first and second division pictures as a trainer into the new season- and wants to rebuild his team. “In the season there will be one or the other” AH ‘and “Oh’ from the audience,” indicates the trainer to choose a more playful game approach in the coming season than in the previous year in the Bundesliga. Kevin Vogt was specially committed to this: The central defender was most recently employed at Union Berlin and is primarily known for his strengths in the game structure.

Hecking announced a series of three a row further ahead: Ibrahima Sissoko and captain Matus Bero are considered to be set. Both already played together in the Bochum midfield in the Bundesliga and could become different players in the second division. However, their qualities are also known to other clubs, so their whereabouts in Bochum is not secured beyond September. “We don’t yet know exactly what our squad will look like at the end of the day,” said Dieter Hecking, who hopes, however, that not much will change on the squad: “It looks very homogeneous.”

In the storm, VfL can fall back on two strikers with experience in scoring: Routinier Philipp Hofmann has scored 76 goals in the second division in his career. Newcomer Ibrahim Sissoko, not to be confused with midfielder Ibrahima, brings plenty of goal experience from the French second division to the Ruhr.

Conclusion: If Bero and Ibrahima Sissoko stay in the club, then Bochum rises again.

Hannover 96: How quickly can the newcomers find?

At Hannover 96 the coach is the star. Christian Titz has transformed his previous club, the 1st FC Magdeburg, from a midfielder of the 3rd league to a aspirant in the second division and had the most beautiful football in the league played.

Titz is known for playing courageously, keeping the ball in your own ranks and focusing on the offensive. That is why he was the desired candidate for 96: “He brings a very clear philosophy and stands for a football that we want to see at Hannover 96,” said Managing Director Thomas Mann at the presentation of his new trainer, whose handwriting was already recognizable in the preparatory games.

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However, Titz has to moderate a big change. A lot of experience is particularly lost in defense: central defender Marcel Halstenberg ended his football career in summer. His next man Phil Neumann left the Lower Saxony to England and switched to Birmingham City free of charge. Goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler also moved away: he returned to his ex-club, which has returned 1. FC Köln. But that’s not all: the German U21 international Nicolo Tresoldi has outgrown the second division and switched to Club Bruges to Belgium for 6 million euros-and thus financed the rebuild to his ex-club.

The fans of Hanover have to remember 16 new faces to strengthen the 96 squad. Benedikt Pichler in particular could quickly prove to be a help. The striker had already had strong statistics when he played for Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga last year. The offensive play of his new trainer should be particularly beneficial.

The most expensive newcomer is Waniss Taïbi, a central midfielder who was hired from the second division of France by the Rodez AF. The strong 23-year-old has the potential to become one of the best midfielder in the league if he doesn’t need too long to get used to.

Conclusion: Hannover, perhaps after a little familiarization period, will play the most handsome football in the league. Whether you get up depends on how quickly you become a harmonious team.