Four points separate first and tenth place, seven teams have realistic chances of winning the autumn championship. Two-time promotion coach Mike Büskens explains the tightest 2nd league in the world.
Hand on heart: Would you have bet a single cent in the summer that SV Elversberg would be on the verge of being at the top of the second division after half the season? Anyone who now raises their finger and nods confidently is either such a football expert that they should quickly apply for a job where assessments from people who really know something are required – or this person is probably lying.
This is in no way intended to diminish the outstanding work that has been done in Elversberg for years under coach Horst Steffen. From 2021 to 2023, the Saarlanders moved from the regional league to the second division, where they had a few problems after a strong start, but overall they didn’t exactly play a good role as expected in eleventh place. But what has happened since then is very astonishing.
The SVE can become autumn champions against Schalke
With a budget of around nine million euros, Elversberg is financially far away from the top group, and the most important offensive players were Jannik Rochelt (Hannover 96) and Paul Wanner (on loan from FC Bayern Munich and now at 1. FC Heidenheim). But the SVE, which has the great advantage of being able to work in tranquil Elversberg (around 13,000 inhabitants) away from the media hustle and bustle, made the most of its opportunities again.
And that is currently too good for all competitors in the league. After 16 match days, Elversberg is top of the table and can become autumn champions with a win on Friday (December 20, 2024) against Schalke 04. In addition to the team around top striker Fisnik Asllani (the league’s best scorer with 15 goals), six other teams have realistic chances of winning the half-time title. Looking a little bigger: Darmstadt 98, in tenth place, is only four points behind Elversberg.
Advancement Coach Büskens about the close battle for promotion
But why is the league so tight? “With the exception of 1. FC Köln (currently second, editor’s note), many of the supposed favorites that were on the list before the season have so far fallen short of their expectations. In general, there is no team that has been consistent throughout, that’s why “Elversberg is also the weakest league leader of all time in terms of average points”, explains Mike Büskens in the Sportschau interview.
The 56-year-old knows the 2nd league very well. In 2012, Büskens achieved promotion there with Greuther Fürth, and he also led Schalke into the Bundesliga as interim coach in 2022, when he scored 21 of a possible 24 points in the final eight games. But even Büskens can’t quite decide whether the huge top group – or “top crowd” – is a sign of class or weakness.
Mike Büskens was promoted to the Bundesliga with Schalke in 2022.
Cologne is the favorite – but the newcomers have a difficult time
“The tension brings a lot of attention to the league, so I would see that as a sign of quality. But we have also noticed in recent years that the promoted teams have a very difficult time in the Bundesliga – that suggests that the difference is quite big,” said Büskens.
Despite the current rather confusing situation, the ex-coach has a clear favorite. “If Cologne (16 points from the last six games, editor) continues to ride this wave, they will be hard to stop.”says Büskens, but he warns about winter: “It will be exciting to see how they act in the transfer market. They want to further strengthen the team, but there is always the risk that this will cause unrest.”
Büskens: Excited about Elversberg, excited about Fortuna
And what’s coming to Cologne? “In the end there was always at least one team that was at the top until the end and that we hadn’t previously considered. Maybe it’s Elversberg now, it’s really exciting what’s happening there, the development is sensational.”says Büskens. However, he is excited to see what happens “If they are still there around the 26th or 27th matchday and get the feeling that they could lose something. Then the pressure increases and it becomes clear how stable the club already is.”
The former coach is already impressed by the stability of a former club. “I have the greatest respect for what Fortuna Düsseldorf is doing this season. If the promotion you thought was certain in the relegation zone is taken away from you, you lose important players, and still manage to be at the top in fourth place, that speaks for them If they continue on their path, I believe that Fortuna can make up for what it missed in the summer.”said Büskens, who was Düsseldorf coach for five months in 2013.
Düsseldorf coach Daniel Thioune (l) congratulates the double goal scorer Dawid Kownacki
Schalke shouldn’t “start spinning”
The “Eurofighter” (UEFA Cup winner in 1997) spent significantly more time at Schalke, where he was assistant coach until the end of last season. What else can Büskens S04 (14th, eleven points behind the promotion places) do?
“Two and a half years ago you saw what could happen when I was allowed to take over at Schalke again – with eight games to go we were sixth or seventh, seven points away. But then you need a really good series, and you still have to “overtake more teams”says Büskens.
And further: “That’s why I believe that the team has more potential, but it wouldn’t be the right way to talk about it now. The goal should now be to get out of this predicament as quickly as possible and, if possible, achieve a single-digit place in the table. Nobody should Now start spinning.” The promotion race promises a lot of excitement even without Schalke.