Bundesliga 23/24 Mid-Season Report Card - Part 2
EXCLUSIVE: The Bundesliga returns this weekend, LIVE on beIN, but for these nine clubs, the second half of the season is where the hard work really begins.
The Bundesliga is about to emerge from the winter break, and the teams below have plenty of work to do to turn their season around, with dreaded relegation to Bundesliga 2 hovering perilously close for some and Europe qualification rapidly disappearing in the rear view for others.
Let’s examine the teams in positions 10 - 18, those who have significantly underperformed this season and which sides could potentially rise above in the second half of the 2023-2024 campaign.
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg was eager to build upon its eighth-place finish last season as it entered a second campaign under Bundesliga champion Niko Kovac. But it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for Die Wölfe, who entered the winter break in 10th.
Despite starting the season strongly with four wins in its opening six matches, Wolfsburg plummeted into a lean trot, tasting victory only twice since September.
There haven’t been many highs for Wolfsburg during the Hinrunde, but wins over RB Leipzig and Kovac’s former side - Eintracht Frankfurt - were highlights.
The biggest issue for Wolfsburg is its over-reliance on Jonas Wind, who has contributed nine goals and four assists from his 16 appearances. Wind is one of only two Wolfsburg players to score multiple goals - the other being big-money signing Lovro Majer.
The 25 year-old Croatian needs to step up his output if Wolfsburg is to turn it around over the back half of the season.
Grade: C+
Key Fixtures
18th February vs Borussia Dortmund (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
11th March @ Bayer Leverkusen (KO 5:30am AEST | 7:30am NZST)
31st May @ Werder Bremen (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
10th – 13th May @ Bayern Munich (KO TBC)
18th May vs Mainz (KO 11:30pm AEST | 19th May 1:30am NZST)
Teacher’s comment: It’s been a strange season for Wolfsburg. Its best is good enough to sneak into a European spot, but its worst is relegation zone stuff. With the likes of Wind, Cerny and Lacroix, Kovacs' men should have enough to avoid looking over their shoulders. But a poor start to the new year will put more pressure on the embattled manager.
Augsburg
The first half of the season for Augsburg can best be described as one of contrasting fortunes.
After swatting off the threat of relegation last season, the Fuggerstädter made additional investments to help Enrico Maaßen progress his squad up the ladder. Those included Philip Tietz and Patric Pfieffer from promoted Darmstadt, Sven Michel from Union Berlin, and Japhet Tanganga from Tottenham.
Despite the new faces, Augsburg struggled to make an impression early doors, losing two of its first four matches and being dumped out of the DFB Pokal by third division side Unterhaching. Victory over Mainz kept the seat warm for Maaßen. However, defeats to Freiburg and Darmstadt were enough for Augsburg to pull the trigger on the manager.
Jess Thorup was thrust into the dugout with the type of immediate success a new manager can bring. Augsburg went unbeaten in his first six games, which included impressive wins over Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
If Augsburg remains in 11th over the back half, it will be its best finish to a Bundesliga season in nine years. Thorup will be hoping to go higher though.
Grade: B-
Key Fixtures
4th February @ Bochum (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
18th February @ Mainz (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
12th - 15th April vs Union Berlin (KO TBC)
26th - 29th April vs Werder Bremen (KO TBC)
18th May @ Bayer Leverkusen (KO 11:30pm AEST | 19th May 1:30am NZST)
Teacher’s comment: Given the start to the season, the turn-around from Thorup at Augsburg has been impressive. But the job is far from over. The defence has really struggled this season and ending 2023 with only one win in its last seven will raise some alarm bells. It feels like it could go either way for Augsburg at this crucial juncture in the season.
Borussia Monchengladbach
Speaking of teams that should not be in this half of the table, Borussia Monchengladbach, who, at this point in proceedings are anything but a glad batch.
The Foals may have a reputation for unearthing young talent, but any side would struggle to replace recover from the mass exodus of top players at the club. Lars Stindl - a stalwart for many years - dropped down a division to Karlsruher SC. Jonas Hofmann joined rival Bayer Leverkusen and Ramy Bensebaini moved to Borussia Dortmund. Hopes were pinned on new striker Tomas Cvancana, Gladbach's most expensive buy, but he's yet to make an impression.
Die Fohlen have shown flashes of their potential under Seonane but have yet to showcase consistency throughout the 90 minutes. A great example of this was their season opener against Augsburg, where they held a 1-3 lead after 37 minutes, displaying an exciting blend of attacking and creative football. But Gladbach crumbled just before the break, conceding twice in 10 minutes.
The second half of the season will be a test of their character and determination. They have the talent to achieve a respectable finish but must be more clinical and efficient on both ends of the pitch.
Grade: C+
Key Fixtures
4th February @ Bayern Munich (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
10th March vs Köln (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
12th - 15th April vs Borussia Dortmund (KO TBC)
26th - 29th April vs Stuttgart (KO TBC)
3rd - 6th May @ Werder Bremen (KO TBC)
Teacher's comment: The defence must be a priority over the back half of the season; 35 goals conceded is the second-worst defensive record in the Bundesliga. If Gladbach is to put clear air between itself and the relegation zone, it must tighten up at the back.
Werder Bremen
Ole Werner would have targeted an improvement on his side's 13th-placed finish last season. Easier said than done when you lose German international Niclas Füllkrug to title-hopeful Borussia Dortmund. Füllkrug's partnership with Marvin Ducksch is missed.
This issue understandably came to the forefront when Bremen was the first victim of Harry Kane and Bayern Munich on the opening matchday of the season. In fact, Bremen's first goal in the Bundesliga came three minutes into their third game when Ducksch converted from the spot in the 4-0 win over Mainz - one of a few highlights for a Bremen outfit that, on paper at least, has a side that should be in the mix for Europe qualification.
After a slow start Ducksch has found some form with seven goals, while his new partner in crime, ex-River Plate star Rafael Borre, has four himself. There is uncertainty whether the on-loan Colombian will still be at Bremen when the season restarts and finding a mid to long-term solution up front may be the key to their top flight survival.
Grade: C
Key Fixtures
17th February @ Köln (KO 6:30am AEST | 8:30am NZST)
17th March @ Union Berlin (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
31st March vs Wolfsburg (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
3rd - 6th May vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (KO TBC)
18th May vs Bochum (KO 11:30pm AEST | 19th May 1:30am NZST)
Teacher's comment: The second season in their return to the Bundesliga was always going to be difficult, and that's very much been the case. Werner is an up-and-coming manager, but this is the most challenging period he's experienced.
Bochum
It’s not often you see a team concede 72 league goals with a goal difference of -32 and avoid relegation. Yet, Thomas Letsch’s Bochum side achieved that last season when it tipped out the likes of Stuttgart, Schalke, and Hertha Berlin on its way to survival.
Defensive improvement was critical this season but, with his side leaking 33 goals across 16 games so far, it hasn’t happened for the aptly-named: Unbreakable. Depite having the hird highest goals 'against' in the league, Bochum sits six points clear of the relegation zone.
Bochum might leak like a colander, but wins over Mainz, Union Berlin and Wolfsburg have provided the springboard for a better back half. Shoring up the defence would ease the frayed nerves of fans though.
Grade: C+
Key Fixtures
17th March @ Mainz (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
31st March vs Darmstadt (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
5th - 8th April @ Köln (KO TBC)
3rd - 6th May @ Union Berlin (KO TBC)
18th May @ Werder Bremen (KO 11:30pm AEST | 19th May 1:30am NZST)
Teacher’s comment: For a significant period of the Hinrunde, Bochum looked certain to be heading towards the 2. Bundesliga. While the spectre of relegation will always be close to a team that concededs more than two goals a game on average, Bochum showed survival instincts to carve out three wins from its last seven games. With Takuma Asano joining Japan for the Asian Cup, Bochum will need more goal-scoring output from Gonçalo Paciência and Philipp Hofmann during January.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin was the feel-good story of the 2022-2023 Bundesliga season, challenging Bayern Munich in a thrilling title race and achieving UEFA Champions League qualification in a fairytale campaign that captured the imagination of the neutral fan the world over. Fast forward six months and Union is facing a very real battle simply to stay in the top flight, manager Urs Fischer is out of work and the European adventure is long since over.
Where did it all go so wrong?
Buoyed by one of the best seasons in the club's history, Union Berlin started this season where it left off, with resounding wins over Mainz and Darmstadt. That's where the party ended, Union collapsing into a mire of nine straight league losses that resulted in the unthinkable last season, Fischer's departure in November.
Nenad Bjelica was thrown into the fire to head up the rescue mission. The change has worked somewhat, with victories over Borussia Mönchengladbach and Köln pulling Die Eisern out of the depths of the relegation zone.
Grade: D-
Key Fixtures
5th February vs RB Leipzig (KO 3:30am AEST | 5:30am NZST)
17th March vs Werder Bremen (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
26th - 29th April vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (KO TBC)
3rd - 6th May vs Bochum (KO TBC)
10th - 13th May @ Köln (KO TBC)
Teacher's comment: It was quite sad to see arguably Union Berlin's greatest-ever manager depart, but those lates wins, recorded in the final three matches of the first half of the campaign, revealed a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Union boasts world class talent in Kevin Volland, Robin Gosens, and Danish goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow. Now more than ever, the established stars need to lead the way out of the depths of the bottom of the ladder.
Mainz
Mainz's 2023/24 season has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions marked by managerial upheaval, impressive performances, and a newfound resilience. After a promising start under Bo Svensson, who led the club to a respectable ninth the previous season, things took a turn in early November when he surprisingly resigned. The departure of the beloved coach left a void, and Jan Siewert was brought in as an interim replacement.
Siewert's arrival ushered in a period of uncertainty, with many fearing a drop in form. However, the new manager succeeded in galvanising the players, instilling a renewed belief and tactical discipline. Mainz surprised everyone by stringing together a series of impressive results, including a stunning victory over RB Leipzig, and once again being a thorn in the side of Borussia Dortmund.
The issues for Mainz are vast but fixable. The question is whether Siewert is the manager to lead recovery.
Grade: D
Key Fixtures
4th February vs Werder Bremen (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
17th April vs Bochum (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
5th - 8th April vs Darmstadt (KO TBC)
26th - 29th April @ Köln (KO TBC)
18th May @ Wolfsburg (KO 11:30pm AEST | 19th May 1:30am NZST)
Teacher's comment: Mainz and Union Berlin have been the surprising disappointments of the Bundesliga season. While they aren't always in contention for a European spot, Mainz is consistently a solid mid-table side, and its regression has been astonishing. Without Lee-Jae Sung due to his Asian Cup commitments, Mainz will need a heavy lift from Karim Onsiwo, who is yet to get off the mark this season.
FC Koln
Turbulent can be the only way to describe the season so far for Köln. The club from Karneval City hasn’t had much to celebrate, languishing in 17th. Compounding the ladder predicament was cult hero Steffen Baumgart's pre-Christmas departure as manager and a transfer ban imposed by FIFA for signing U19 player Jaka Cuber Potocnik in 2022.
Koln's on-field performance has been one of significant struggle. Goals have been hard to come by for Effzeh, with a miserable 10 strikes from 16 matches, the worst in the league. Davie Selke has been the brunt of the goalscoring output, with four to his name. The only positives for the club were wins Rhineland rival Borussia Monchengladbach and bottom-of-the-table Darmstadt.
Timo Schultz was announced new manager of Die Geißböcke for the remainder of the 23/24 season. Schultz has experience in German football, managing 2. Bundesliga leader St. Pauli for two and a half seasons before being axed this time last year. He joined Swiss giant Basel at the start of this campaign, but a disappointing stint saw him axed after just 11 games in all competitions.
Grade: D-
Key Fixtures
10th March @ Borussia Mönchengladbach (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
5th - 8th April vs Bochum (KO TBC)
19th - 22nd April vs Darmstadt (KO TBC)
26th - 29th April @ Mainz (KO TBC)
10th - 13th May vs Union Berlin (KO TBC)
Teacher’s comment: New year, new Koln? That’s what Schultz and co will hope when they emerge from the winter break. Given how only 10 points separates the bottom nine teams, there is still hope that Köln can turn this around. Defensively, there are worse performaners in the Bundesliga. But, for Koln to kick on, it must find form at the other end of the pitch.
Darmstadt
Expectations were low for Darmstadt as it returned to the Bundesliga for the first time in six seasons. Die Lilien is where most expected them to be at the halfway mark. the loss of the club's best defender, Patric Pfeiffer, and best striker, Philip Tietz, to Augsburg put the club on the back foot before a ball had been kicked in anger in the top flight.
Depsite propping up the other 17 teams, Darmstadt has managed two wins, beating heavily-fancied Werder Bremen at home and Augsburg away - a victory that prompted a change of manager for the Bavarian club.
Unfortunately, those rare bright spots have been drowned in a flood of goals conceded - 41 to be exact - which have Darmstadt anchored to the foot of the ladder.
Grade: D-
Key Fixtures
25th February @ Werder Bremen (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
3rd March vs Augsburg (KO 1:30am AEST | 3:30am NZST)
5th - 8th April @ Mainz (KO TBC)
19th - 22nd April @ Köln (KO TBC)
18th May @ Borussia Dortmund (KO 11:30pm AEST | 19th May 1:30am NZST)
Teacher’s comment: While Darmstadt is a mess at the back, the story is a little different up the other end of the pitch. With Luca Pfieffer finally breaking his duck and an impressive campaign from Tim Skarke, The Lilies have shown they can take it to teams who underestimate them at their peril.
With the 'relegation three' all locked on 10 points, and only nine points separating the bottom nine clubs in the Bundesliga, the competition is as tight down in the depths as it is at the other end, where Bayern Leverkusen and Bayern Munich aren't giving an inch in the battle for the title. In all it makes for a thrilling back half of the season, as the German top flight continues to make a strong case to be Europe's most exciting league.
