Lothar Matthäus does not see FC Schalke 04 as the “clear top favorite” in the 2nd Bundesliga. He believes another club can pull off a surprise.

The second division opener between Hamburger SV and FC Schalke 04 was hotly anticipated – and last Friday’s match lived up to its promise. The spectators saw eight goals and a better end for HSV, who prevailed 5:3.

Sky pundit Lothar Matthäus also looks back on a “spectacle” in his column for the pay-TV channel – and comments on the roles of the two traditional clubs, who, along with Hertha BSC, are considered the biggest contenders for Bundesliga promotion.

“For me, HSV and Schalke are among the candidates for the top three spots,” says Matthäus. “However, the two-time world footballer does not see a clear top favorite.” In contrast, the 62-year-old believes a long-time second-division club can pull off a surprise this season. “I believe that clubs like Karlsruher SC can also compete at the top,” Matthäus wrote.

Since the Badeners celebrated their promotion back to the Unterhaus in 2019, they have never been among the narrow circle of favorites. Last season, they finished in seventh place. That could change in the coming round, according to Matthäus.

The ex-professional bases his prediction mainly on two factors: “I think the team has gotten a boost from the new stadium and the signing of Lars Stindl and can annoy the clubs with the really big names and World Cup arenas.”

Will KSC annoy Schalke and Co.

Stindl, a longtime Gladbach player, returned this summer to KSC, where his career had once taken off. He brought with him the experience of 376 appearances in the Bundesliga – the first of which he collected at Karlsruhe in the late 00s. In the opener against VfL Osnabrück, the 34-year-old was on the pitch until stoppage time and directed his team to a 3-2 opening win.

And the new Wildpark Stadium mentioned by Matthäus was opened this summer. After five years of construction, KSC will celebrate its first competitive match there on the second matchday – and that could already reveal whether Christian Eichner’s team can really keep up with the big boys this season. Schalke winners Hamburger SV come to southwest Germany on Sunday (1:30 p.m.).