The first half of the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season is now history. We present the “Forecasting XI of the first half of the season, including the coach. Our ”Forecasting XI of the 2025/26 second division first half of the season” plays in a 3-4-3 formation – meaning: goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three strikers. Goalkeeper: Loris Karius (FC Schalke 04): There’s no getting past Loris Karius of Schalke 04 – neither on the pitch nor in the first half of the season’s team. Together with his back line, the keeper is a major factor in the success of the league leaders. In 17 games, Karius conceded only ten goals, clearly the best record of all regular goalkeepers. He kept a clean sheet nine times, which, together with Tjark Ernst (Hertha BSC), is also the best record. On the way to the autumn championship, Karius secured several points and gave his career new momentum. “If Schalke hadn’t asked, I probably would have ended my career,” the 32-year-old admitted in an interview with Sport Bild. Now he is knocking on the Bundesliga door with S04. Defense Patric Pfeiffer (Darmstadt 98): Patric Pfeiffer was the only outfield player at SV Darmstadt 98 not to 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 fourth-best defense in the league and is in the middle of the promotion race with the Lilies.
Felix Götze (SC Paderborn): The first half of the season began with a sense of achievement for Felix Götze even before the first whistle, as new coach Ralf Kettemann named the center back as captain. The 27-year-old repaid that trust with good performances, even though he missed three games. The reward for his performances came in November when the captain signed a new contract with the East Westphalia club. Nikola Katic (FC Schalke 04): Nikola Katic is, of course, a key member of Schalke’s defense. Like Miron Muslic, Katic joined the club from Plymouth Argyle before the season and has shown why his coach was so keen to sign him. The Bosnian international received a yellow card on the first matchday against Hertha BSC, but otherwise did not miss a minute of play. Katic also contributed a goal to the opening victory against Berlin, his only goal of the season so far. Perhaps the biggest name in the league cannot be left out of this team. Even though he struggled in front of goal and didn’t score his first goal from open play until matchday 16 (previously two penalties), everything in Hertha BSC’s attacking play revolves around the 28-year-old. Reese set up eight of Hertha’s 21 goals – joint best in the league.
Cajetan Lenz (VfL Bochum): In a mixed first half of the season, Bochum-born Cajetan Lenz is one of the discoveries at VfL. The 19-year-old has been a regular since the third matchday and has always been in the starting lineup—except on the ninth matchday, which he missed due to a yellow card suspension. Lenz has played a major role in the upswing under Uwe Rösler, who is counting entirely on the home-grown player. Felix Klaus (Greuther Fürth): Together 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 also the league’s top scorer. After 17 match days, Fürth is second from bottom with the worst defense (44 goals conceded) – but that’s not Klaus’s fault.
Soufiane El-Faouzi (FC Schalke 04): Like Katic, the third Schalke player in the group is a new signing. Soufiane El-Faouzi came from Alemannia Aachen and made an immediate impact at Schalke. The midfield dynamo, who was always in the starting lineup and was only substituted once, particularly impressed with his running. Only Mael Corboz (Arminia Bielefeld) covered more kilometers, and El-Faouzi also contributed one goal and three assists to the strong first half of the season.
Attack
Benjamin Källman (Hannover 96): New signing Benjamin Källman immediately impressed at Hannover, initially as a substitute. The Finn scored three times after coming on as a substitute, netting a total of ten goals in his seventeen appearances. Only two strikers scored more often. Younes Ebnoutalib (SV Elversberg): One of the faces of this second division first half of the season was still playing in the regional league a year ago. Back then, Younes Ebnoutalib was still hunting for goals for FC Gießen, but 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 is now on the radar of several Bundesliga clubs.
Isac Lidberg (Darmstadt 98): A name that is likely to bring back bad memories, especially for VfL Bochum. On the very first matchday, Isac Lidberg welcomed the Bundesliga relegated team to the second division with a hat trick in the Lilies’ 4-1 victory. The Swede followed that up with eight goals before the winter break, bringing his tally to eleven in 16 games. 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 at FC Schalke 04. After several disastrous seasons, the 43-year-old arrived from Plymouth Argyle in the summer. He came to Gelsenkirchen with relegation in England and a few question marks hanging over him – and surprisingly stormed to the autumn championship with Schalke. The critics have now fallen silent, the fans are celebrating their new head coach – and, thanks to Muslic, are dreaming of the first division again.
