Germany's crazy second division season: half of league eyes promotion

The omens appear good that Cologne will be back in the Bundesliga next season but it remains to be seen in a crazy second tier season what omens and statistics are really worth.

Cologne are top at the halfway mark thanks to Sunday's 1-0 at Kaiserslautern. Reports said that Cologne were promoted on all three previous occasions when they led at this stage.

Half of the league in contention

But this season is seeing an incredibly tight race with half of the league vying for the two direct promotion slots and the play-off berth for the third-place finisher.

Cologne are two points clear of Karlsruhe and five teams led by SV Hamburg are another point back. Kaiserslautern in ninth are just two points behind Hamburg and five off the top.

The lead has changed three times in the last three rounds, from Paderborn via surprise team Elversberg to Cologne. Schalke, Hanover and Fortuna Dusseldorf have also been top this season.

Big name clubs

Surprisingly not in the top nine are the likes of Schalke, Hertha Berlin and Nuremberg.

But their presence, huge fan base and big stadiums adds to the fact that that Germany's second tier is the best attended in the world.

Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hanover, Hamburg and Kaiserslautern are other formerly big clubs making the league highly attractive and competitive, especially for traditionalists.

Former European champions Hamburg have been languishing in the second tier since their first ever Bundesliga relegation and are making a seventh attempt to return.

A haul of 28 points is their worst in the period but they are well in the race because results are completely unpredictable this term.

Surprise results and teams

Schalke for instance may be ailing but have won their last two away matches at then leaders Elversberg and Paderborn.

Elversberg, a small club from the Saar region who were promoted from the third tier in 2023, have beaten all big teams Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Lautern, Hertha and Hanover to rank fourth.

Captain Luca Schellbacher told Kicker sports magazine that "we deserve to be up there from the way we play."

Right behind them are Magdeburg, 5-2 winners in Düsseldorf on Friday, who could bring former East Germany back on the Bundesliga map.

It can not even be ruled out that Schalke or Hertha or Nuremberg - coached by World Cup winner and record scorer Miroslav Klose - mount a comeback.

Cologne not celebrating yet

After all, the only certainty is that there is no certainty at all in the league - as shown by Cologne who were eight points off the top in 12th place seven matchdays ago.

"It is nice to hibernate in first place," Cologne captain Timo Hüber said. "Looking back two months, this was not to be expected. Back then there was a storm, now the sun is shining over Cologne!

"But we can't rest on our laurels. In the new year, we have to pick up exactly where we left off. Only then will we continue to be successful."