Promotion race & relegation battle
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The fight for promotion in the 2nd Bundesliga promises excitement: Schalke 04 in first place and Hannover 96 in fifth place are only separated by three points. Sixth-placed Hertha has the easiest remaining program in the table, while nine teams are in the relegation battle. Transfermarkt gives an overview of which clubs in the race for promotion and which in the fight to stay in the league have the supposedly most difficult and easiest remaining program.
“We continue to let the fans dream,” were the words of Schalke coach Miron Muslic in the first half of the season after the 1-1 draw against Darmstadt 98. After the 1-1 draw in the second leg on matchday 27, the goal of a return to the Bundesliga is no longer a dream. This applies to both teams that have the easiest remaining program in the top five – as of today. Darmstadt’s opponents have an average rank of 9.29. Behind them are Schalke (⌀ 9.14), Hannover (⌀ 7.71) and SC Paderborn (⌀ 7.29). SV Elversberg is hit hardest in the top group with 7.14.
For Hertha BSC, the hope of promotion was actually extinguished. Coach Stefan Leitl found clear words after the 2:5 defeat against SC Paderborn on matchday 23: “Yes, the door is closed and locked. Now it’s all about doing the best we can.” Four games and ten points later, the situation looks a little different. The Berliners are currently seven points away from a direct promotion place, and of all the clubs in the second division they have the easiest remaining program (⌀ 13.43).
Hertha’s points haul in the first half of the season from matchday 10 to 17 provides a glimmer of hope for a place in the German upper house. They took 18 points from eight games and remained unbeaten apart from a defeat against Magdeburg. If such a run succeeds again – most recently there was a 5-2 win against Düsseldorf – Hertha fans can dream.
Even in the table cellar, which starts in midfield this season, everything is possible. There is only a seven point gap between tenth and 18th place. Bottom team Prussia Münster supposedly has the worst chance of staying in the league. The average ranking of opponents is 8.14. There is also the derby against direct competitor Arminia Bielefeld. Arminia is in 15th place and, like 1. FC Magdeburg, has easier matches in the table (both 8.86). Holstein Kiel (⌀ 12.00), which currently occupies the relegation place, got the supposedly best cards.
Hope in the relegation battle: Dresden in the second half of the season ahead of Schalke
Karlsruher SC has what is supposed to be the hardest remaining program. 5.71 is the current average table position of the upcoming opponents – it’s practically nothing in terms of sport anymore. Meanwhile, Fortuna Düsseldorf and VfL Bochum have to be careful. Bochum is in a better position with 33 points, while Düsseldorf, on the other hand, is only three points ahead of the relegation place after two recent defeats.
Fortuna has the weakest offensive in the league over the entire season, but the second half of the season is encouraging. Dynamo Dresden, Greuther Fürth and Düsseldorf are performing solidly there: Dresden is fifth and therefore ahead of Schalke, Fürth and Düsseldorf are in midfield. Hannover is at the top with 20 points, which promises a broad-chested appearance for the upcoming duels in the promotion battle.
