The first half of the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season is now history. We present the “Forecasting Team of the First Half of the Season,” including the coach.
Our “Forecasting Team of the First Half of the 2025/26 Second Division Season” plays in a 3-4-3 formation—meaning: one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three forwards.
Goalkeeper
Loris Karius (FC Schalke 04): There’s no getting past Loris Karius of Schalke 04—neither on the field nor in the first-half team. Together with his back line, the keeper is a major factor in the league leader’s success. In 17 games, Karius has conceded only ten goals, the clear best record among all starting goalkeepers. He has kept nine clean sheets, tying Tjark Ernst (Hertha BSC) for the league lead. On the way to the fall championship, Karius secured several crucial points and gave his career new momentum. “If Schalke hadn’t come calling, I probably would have even ended my career,” the 32-year-old admitted in an interview with Sport Bild. Now, with S04, he is knocking on the door of the Bundesliga.
Defense
Patric Pfeiffer (Darmstadt 98): As the only outfield player at SV Darmstadt 98, Patric Pfeiffer didn’t miss a single minute of play in the first half of the season. The 25-year-old returnee came from FC Augsburg and immediately established himself as the defensive leader. The center back organizes the league’s fourth-best defense and is in the thick of the promotion race with the Lilies.
Felix Götze (SC Paderborn): The first half of the season began on a high note for Felix Götze even before the opening kickoff, as new coach Ralf Kettemann named the center back captain. The 27-year-old repaid that trust with strong performances, even though he missed three matches. The reward for his efforts came in November, when the captain signed a new contract with the East Westphalia-based club.
Nikola Katic (FC Schalke 04): Nikola Katic is, of course, a must-have in Schalke’s defense. Like Miron Muslic, Katic joined from Plymouth Argyle before the season and demonstrated why his coach was so keen to bring him in. The Bosnian international received a yellow card on the opening matchday against Hertha BSC but otherwise didn’t miss a single minute of play. Katic also contributed a goal to the season-opening win against Berlin, his only goal of the season so far.
Midfield
Fabian Reese (Hertha BSC): Perhaps the biggest name in the league simply had to be included in this lineup. Even though the team struggled in front of the opponent’s goal and Fabian Reese didn’t score his first goal from open play until Matchday 16 (having previously scored two penalty goals), Hertha BSC’s offensive play revolves entirely around the 28-year-old. Reese has set up eight of Hertha’s 21 goals—a shared league-high.
Cajetan Lenz (VfL Bochum): In a mixed first half of the season, Bochum native Cajetan Lenz has been one of the standout discoveries at VfL. The 19-year-old has been a fixture in the lineup since Matchday 3 and has always started—except on Matchday 9, which he missed due to a yellow card suspension. Lenz has played a major role in the team’s resurgence under Uwe Rösler, who relies entirely on the homegrown talent.
Felix Klaus (Greuther Fürth): Along with Fabian Reese, Felix Klaus is the league’s top assist provider and one of the few bright spots at Greuther Fürth. With seven goals of his own, Klaus is the league’s top scorer. After 17 matchdays, Fürth sits second-to-last with the league’s worst defense (44 goals conceded)—but Klaus isn’t to blame.
Soufiane El-Faouzi (FC Schalke 04): The third Schalke player on the list is, like Katic, a new signing. Soufiane El-Faouzi arrived from Alemannia Aachen and made an immediate impact at Schalke. The midfield dynamo, who was always in the starting lineup and was substituted early only once, particularly shone with his work rate. Only Mael Corboz (Arminia Bielefeld) covered more ground; El-Faouzi also contributed one goal and three assists to the strong first half of the season.
Attack
Benjamin Källman (Hannover 96): Newcomer Benjamin Källman made an immediate impact for the Lower Saxony side, initially as a substitute. The Finn scored three times after coming off the bench, netting a total of ten goals in his seventeen appearances. Only two forwards scored more.
Younes Ebnoutalib (SV Elversberg): One of the standout players of this second-division first half of the season was playing in the regional league just a year ago. Back then, Younes Ebnoutalib was still chasing goals for FC Gießen; now he has helped SV Elversberg to another strong season and second place at the winter break. With 12 goals this season, Ebnoutalib is the league’s top scorer and has now caught the eye of several Bundesliga clubs.
Isac Lidberg (Darmstadt 98): A name that is likely to bring back some unpleasant memories, especially for VfL Bochum. Right on the first matchday, Isac Lidberg welcomed the Bundesliga relegation team to the second division with a hat trick in the Lilies’ 4-1 victory. By the winter break, the Swede had added eight more goals, bringing his tally to eleven in 16 matches.
Coach of the First Half of the Season
Miron Muslic (FC Schalke 04): It’s hard to believe how quickly Miron Muslic has already made his mark on FC Schalke 04. After several disastrous seasons, the 43-year-old arrived from Plymouth Argyle in the summer. He came to Gelsenkirchen fresh off a relegation in England and with some question marks hanging over him—and surprisingly led Schalke to the fall championship. The critics have since fallen silent, the fans are celebrating their new head coach—and, thanks in part to Muslic, are dreaming of the top flight once again.
