Football Season Guide

A brilliant debut campaign in the Bundesliga saw Ingolstadt defy pre-season expectations of an ultimately unsuccessful relegation battle to finish in a comfortable mid-table position last season. Along with fellow promoted side Darmstadt, Ingolstadt were tipped for the drop but emerged as the surprise package last season under Ralph Hasenhuttl and only once dropped lower than 11th place, a position which they held on to when the campaign drew to a close. Ingolstadt though face another difficult campaign this time around after Hasenhuttl left the club at the end of the season to take over at RB Leipzig, a team that will be Ingolstadt's immediate rival in ensuring safety from relegation. Former Karlsruher coach Markus Kauczinski has been appointed as the successor and while the 46-year old did enjoy success in the lower divisions, it will be the first time that he will be in charge of a Bundesliga side. Apart from Hasenhuttl's departure, Ingolstadt have managed to hold on to almost all of their key players, with Ramazan Ozcan and Benjamin Hubner the only two first choice players who have left the club after completing moves to Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim respectively. Danny da Costa has also been signed by Leverkusen while Konstantin Engel and Danilo Soares have been released after their contracts expired. Ingolstadt have made a few quality additions, with Florent Hadergjonaj expected to be the first choice in the right back position while Sonny Kittel will also provide some creative thrust from the midfield. While Ingolstadt have brought in two new keepers in Fabijan Buntic and Martin Hansen but Orjan Nyland is expected to start the season as the first choice for Kauczinski who has also brought in Robert Leipertz from Schalke as he looks to ditch the 4-3-3 system employed by Hasenhuttl last season in favor of a 4-2-3-1 formation. The players though are yet to buy into the system and Ingolstadt have struggled during the pre-season, failing to win even once in their five games and Kauczinski has a huge task on hand if he is to ensure that Ingolstadt remain well clear of the relegation zone come the end of the season