Football Season Guide

Arminia Bielefeld were one of a few sides that overperformed in the second division last season as they finished fourth, one spot outside the promotion zone. Bielefeld’s season was very solid without being spectacular and they were the beneficiaries of the league being quite weak last season outside the top three. It is hard to imagine that Jeff Sabiene’s side will be able to do any better than they did last term. However, the Luxembourg coach has proven himself adept at creating a strong team spirit and that helps them pick up points against better sides than them. The squad that starts the 2018/2019 season will be very similar to that which did so well last term. Of the core squad from last season only midfielder Konstantin Kerschbaumer has left the club and after returning to parent club Brentford, has ended up at fellow second division side Ingolstadt. Right back Nils Teixeira fell out of favour near the end of the season and has been shipped off to Cypriot side AEL Limassol. Otherwise the majority of departures have just been to thin out the squad. Young defender Henri Weigelt was impressive last term and the club have cashed in on his potential with a move to the Netherlands. Bielefeld have mainly brought in players with experience in this division which seems like a safe option for a side who are still establishing themselves. Surprisingly a forward line which proved successful last season including 13 goal Andreas Voglsammer has been added to. Sven Schipplock and the solo no German based signing Joan Simun Edmundsson will hope to settle into the side quickly. Nils Seufert of relegated Kaiserslautern and promising midfielder Max Christiansen will both hope to take the midfield spot vacated by Kerschbaumer. Bielefeld are a side who look unlikely to drop into the relegation battle this season, but are also not a team favoured for promotion. A mid table finish is likely, but they have proven themselves capable of beating better sides and should not be ruled out of doing so again this term.