This season Bundesliga II will be one of the most competitive in decades. The favourites will be 1.FC Nurnberg, smarting from a season from hell, and only a season after winning the German cup. Last season promotion was only decided in the final weeks with FS Mainz and Freiburg having a chance to win one of the three promotion places late on.
This season two new teams will be competing at this level thanks to the restructuring of the lower leagues. FSV Frankfurt have risne through the Oberliga's, earning back to back promotions in 2007 and 2008 to this level. Joining them will be FC Ingolstadt who five years ago were in the Landesliga Sud, some 5 levels below the Bundesliga. Like FSV they won back to back promotions and take their place on merit.
The following teams will complete in Bundesliga II this season.
1.FC Nurnberg - Nurnberg - EasyCredit Stadion - Capacity: 46,780. A season from hell last year as they were relegated on the last weekend. They will be keen to make an immediate return to the top flight, cheered on by their fervent and loyal fans. The 8 times champions will rue their home form last season that badly let them down. The stadium is located in the south of the city and can be reached by S-Bahn line 2 from central station with a journey time of 5 minutes. Tickets cost €11 to €47 for a seat and €9 to €13 for a terrace place. More details can be found here.
Hansa Rostock - Rostock - DKB Arena - Capacity: 29,000. Relegated on their first season back in the top flight. They were let down by their fire power that produced on 30 goals in 34 league games. The club were the last ever champions of East Germany in 1991. The stadium is located close to the centre of the city and can be reached by trolleybus 1 or 5 from the central station, alighting at Parkstrasse. Tickets this season range from €14 to €32 for a seat, or €11 for a standing place. More details can be found here.
MSV Duisburg - Duisburg - MSV Arena - Capacity: 31,500. The perennial yo-yo club are back in the 2nd level after relegation in last place last season. They have been either promoted or relegated in the past five seasons. The stadium is located in the south of the town, which is part of the huge Rhine/Ruhr Conurbation. The nearest airport is either Dusseldorf or Koln, both around 25 minutes away by S-Bahn. Bus number 944 runs from Duisburg Hauptbahnhof on matchdays. Tickets are €10 to €110 for a VIP spot, or €9 for a place on the terrace behind the goal. More details can be found here.
1.FSV Mainz 05 - Mainz - Bruchwegstadion - Capacity: 20,300. After three seasons in the top flight, Mainz hoped to bounced straight back up last season but missed out on the final weekend of the season. They are located a few miles from Frankfurt, and a bus runs from Frankfurt Main to Mainz Hauptbahnhof on a regular basis. Bus numbers 6, 54, 55 and 57 run to the stadium on a matchday. Ticket prices range from €14 to €33 for a seat, or €10.50 for a terrace place. More details can be found here.
SC Freiburg - Freiburg - Badenova Stadion - Capacity: 24,500. After two season in the 2nd division they left their promotion push a few weeks too late last year, finishing in 5th place. The stadium is located on the River Dreisam to the south east of the town centre. Freiburg is served by Basel-Mulhouse airport which is actually in Switzerland, but has a regular bus service to the town centre. The stadium can be reached via S-Bahn line 1 to Romerhof then a short walk. Ticket prices are €20 to €35 for a seat, or €8 for a terrace place.
SpVgg Greuther Fuerth - Fuerth - Playmobil Stadion - Capacity: 14,500. Lying a few miles to the west of Nurnberg, Fuerth have been playing at this level for far too long. They have been constantly challenging for promotion, finishing in the top five in the past four seasons. The stadium is a 15 minute walk north of the town centre, although Bus 173, 177 and 179 run to the stadium as well on a matchday. A ticket costs between €7 and €22 for a seat or €10 for a standing place behind the goal. The nearest airport is Nurnberg which is accessible via S-Bahn from Fuerth. More details can be found here.
Alemannia Aachen - Aachen - Tivoli - Capacity: 21,200. After their one and only season in the top flight in 2006/07 they finished 9 points off a promotion place last season. The town is located on the Dutch border to the west of Koln. The nearest airport is either Koln or Dusseldorf Weeze. To reach the stadium catch bus line 1, 11, 21, 46 or 163 that stop at the stadium on a matchday. Ticket prices are €20 to €29 for a seat in one of the small stands, or €5 to €13 for a place on the open air terraces. More details can be found here.
SV Wehen Wiesbaden - Wiesbaden - Brita Arena - Capacity: 12,066. The brand new Brita Arena is ready for another assault this season on the Bundesliga. They finished 8th last season, their first one back at this level for some time. Wiesbaden is located close to Frankfurt and can be reached by S-Bahn from Frankfurt, and Frankfurt International Airport. From the central station it is a short 5 minute walk. Ticket prices are €12 to €30 for a seat or €10 for a terrace place.
FC St.Pauli - Hamburg - Millerntor Stadion - Capacity: 23,500. The one time rebel club from Hamburg made themselves at home in the 2nd division last season after four years in the lower Regional leagues. The stadium is located to the west of the city centre in the Reeperbahn area and well served by public transport - U-Bahn 3 to St Pauli is the closest station to the ground. A Seat costs €22 to €45 or a terrace place is €13. Nearest airport is Hamburg International. More details can be found here.
TUS Koblenz - Koblenz - Stadion Oberwerth - Capacity: 15,000.Another team who have risen up through the lower leagues, and now seem well at home in the 2nd level of German football. They play in the pretty town of Koblenz, not far from Frankfurt, and served by a regular bus from Frankfurt Hahn airport. The stadium can be reached by a special bus service from the main station on a match day. Tickets cost €17 to €27 for a seat or €12 for a place on the terrace.
TSV 1860 Munchen - Munich - Allianz Arena - Capacity: 69,000. One of the most famous teams in the 2nd division and one that has been out of the top flight for far too long. Were one of the first German teams to reach a European final when they lost to West Ham United in the 1965 European Cup Winners Cup at Wembley. They ground share with Bayern at the Allianz Arena, although their spiritual home is the Grunwalder Stadion in the south of the city. U-Bahn line 6 from Marienplatz reaches the stadium stop at Frottmaning in around 20 minutes. Tickets cost €21 to €32 for a seat, and €11 for a terrace place. The nearest airpor is Munich's Franz-Joseph Strauss which is around 15 miles to the north. More details can be found here.
VfL Osnabruck - Osnabruck - Osnatel Arena - Capacity: 16,130. After promotion from the Regionalliga Nord two seasons ago they finihed in 12th place last season. The newly rebuilt stadium was finished last season and should give them an advantage this season in terms of home support. The stadium is located in the north of the town centre wuth Line 71 running from the station to the ground on Bohmter Strasse. The nearest airport is Osnabruck which is served daily by Air Berlin from London Stansted. Ticket prices are €24 to €35 for a seat and €8 to €12 for a terrace place.
1. FC Kaiserslautern - Kaiserslautern - Fritz Walter Stadion - Capacity: 48,500. It is only a decade since they were regularly pushing for a UEFA Cup spot, showing the measure of their decline on the pitch. The stadium was redeveloped for the 2006 World Cup finals and sits high above the town. It is a 10 minute walk uphill from the central station (and a 5 minute walk down!). Seats start from €15 to €35 whilst a standing place on the western kop will cost €9. The nearest airport is Karlsruhe Baden-Baden which is around 35 miles north east, and served daily by Ryanair from London Stansted. More details can be found here.
FC Augsburg - Augsburg - Rosenaustadion - Capacity: 32,354. Only 5 years since they were in the Oberliga they seem to have found their natural position in the German leagues. Augsburg is located 30 miles west of Munich, and the nearest airport is Munich Franz-Joseph Strauss which is around 50 miles away. The stadium is located in the south of the town and can be reached by a 10 minute walk from Polizeiprasidium, which is served by Trollybus 1 from the central station. Tickets are €7 to €28 this season for a seat, and €9 for a standing place behind the goal.
Rot-Weiss Ahlen - Ahlen - Wersestadion - Capacity: 11,500. Promoted from the regional leagues last season they will be one of the smallest teams in the Bundesliga 2 this season. They will play at the recently redeveloped Wersestadion this season,, located a 10 minute walk from the central station. Ticket prices are €13 to €23 this season, and €9 for a terrace place.
Rot-Weiss Oberhausen - Oberhausen - Stadion Niederrhein - Capacity: 21,318. Another promoted team last season, finishing in 2nd place in Regionalliga Nord last season. They have played at this level regularly, the last time in 2004/05. The stadium is located just south of the Autobahn 42, and served by bus 122 from the central station. Ticket prices this season are €9 to €23 for a seat and €8 for a terrace spot.
FSV Frankfurt - Frankfurt - Commerzbank Arena - Capacity: 53,024. Promoted as Regionalliga Sud champions last season they will be aiming to build on their recent success and push onwards. They play at the World Cup stadium this season, although the thousands of empty seats may see them move back to the smaller Brentanobod stadium. However, for the time being tickets will cost €15 to €35 for a seat and €9 for a terrace spot. More details can be found here.
FC Ingolstadt - Ingolstadt - ESv Stadion - Capacity: 11,418. Runners up in Regionalliga Sud last season and thus playing at this level for the 1st time in their history. The stadium is located close to the A9 Autobahn and can be reached by bus 30 from the central station to Ringsee. Tickets will be €20 to €40 this season for a seat and €8 to €13 for a terrace place.
1.FC Nurnberg - Nurnberg - EasyCredit Stadion - Capacity: 46,780. A season from hell last year as they were relegated on the last weekend. They will be keen to make an immediate return to the top flight, cheered on by their fervent and loyal fans. The 8 times champions will rue their home form last season that badly let them down. The stadium is located in the south of the city and can be reached by S-Bahn line 2 from central station with a journey time of 5 minutes. Tickets cost €11 to €47 for a seat and €9 to €13 for a terrace place. More details can be found 
Hansa Rostock - Rostock - DKB Arena - Capacity: 29,000. Relegated on their first season back in the top flight. They were let down by their fire power that produced on 30 goals in 34 league games. The club were the last ever champions of East Germany in 1991. The stadium is located close to the centre of the city and can be reached by trolleybus 1 or 5 from the central station, alighting at Parkstrasse. Tickets this season range from €14 to €32 for a seat, or €11 for a standing place. More details can be found
MSV Duisburg - Duisburg - MSV Arena - Capacity: 31,500. The perennial yo-yo club are back in the 2nd level after relegation in last place last season. They have been either promoted or relegated in the past five seasons. The stadium is located in the south of the town, which is part of the huge Rhine/Ruhr Conurbation. The nearest airport is either Dusseldorf or Koln, both around 25 minutes away by S-Bahn. Bus number 944 runs from Duisburg Hauptbahnhof on matchdays. Tickets are €10 to €110 for a VIP spot, or €9 for a place on the terrace behind the goal. More details can be found 
1.FSV Mainz 05 - Mainz - Bruchwegstadion - Capacity: 20,300. After three seasons in the top flight, Mainz hoped to bounced straight back up last season but missed out on the final weekend of the season. They are located a few miles from Frankfurt, and a bus runs from Frankfurt Main to Mainz Hauptbahnhof on a regular basis. Bus numbers 6, 54, 55 and 57 run to the stadium on a matchday. Ticket prices range from €14 to €33 for a seat, or €10.50 for a terrace place. More details can be found 
SC Freiburg - Freiburg - Badenova Stadion - Capacity: 24,500. After two season in the 2nd division they left their promotion push a few weeks too late last year, finishing in 5th place. The stadium is located on the River Dreisam to the south east of the town centre. Freiburg is served by Basel-Mulhouse airport which is actually in Switzerland, but has a regular bus service to the town centre. The stadium can be reached via S-Bahn line 1 to Romerhof then a short walk. Ticket prices are €20 to €35 for a seat, or €8 for a terrace place.
SpVgg Greuther Fuerth - Fuerth - Playmobil Stadion - Capacity: 14,500. Lying a few miles to the west of Nurnberg, Fuerth have been playing at this level for far too long. They have been constantly challenging for promotion, finishing in the top five in the past four seasons. The stadium is a 15 minute walk north of the town centre, although Bus 173, 177 and 179 run to the stadium as well on a matchday. A ticket costs between €7 and €22 for a seat or €10 for a standing place behind the goal. The nearest airport is Nurnberg which is accessible via S-Bahn from Fuerth. More details can be found 
Alemannia Aachen - Aachen - Tivoli - Capacity: 21,200. After their one and only season in the top flight in 2006/07 they finished 9 points off a promotion place last season. The town is located on the Dutch border to the west of Koln. The nearest airport is either Koln or Dusseldorf Weeze. To reach the stadium catch bus line 1, 11, 21, 46 or 163 that stop at the stadium on a matchday. Ticket prices are €20 to €29 for a seat in one of the small stands, or €5 to €13 for a place on the open air terraces. More details can be found 
SV Wehen Wiesbaden - Wiesbaden - Brita Arena - Capacity: 12,066. The brand new Brita Arena is ready for another assault this season on the Bundesliga. They finished 8th last season, their first one back at this level for some time. Wiesbaden is located close to Frankfurt and can be reached by S-Bahn from Frankfurt, and Frankfurt International Airport. From the central station it is a short 5 minute walk. Ticket prices are €12 to €30 for a seat or €10 for a terrace place.
FC St.Pauli - Hamburg - Millerntor Stadion - Capacity: 23,500. The one time rebel club from Hamburg made themselves at home in the 2nd division last season after four years in the lower Regional leagues. The stadium is located to the west of the city centre in the Reeperbahn area and well served by public transport - U-Bahn 3 to St Pauli is the closest station to the ground. A Seat costs €22 to €45 or a terrace place is €13. Nearest airport is Hamburg International. More details can be found 
TUS Koblenz - Koblenz - Stadion Oberwerth - Capacity: 15,000.Another team who have risen up through the lower leagues, and now seem well at home in the 2nd level of German football. They play in the pretty town of Koblenz, not far from Frankfurt, and served by a regular bus from Frankfurt Hahn airport. The stadium can be reached by a special bus service from the main station on a match day. Tickets cost €17 to €27 for a seat or €12 for a place on the terrace.
TSV 1860 Munchen - Munich - Allianz Arena - Capacity: 69,000. One of the most famous teams in the 2nd division and one that has been out of the top flight for far too long. Were one of the first German teams to reach a European final when they lost to West Ham United in the 1965 European Cup Winners Cup at Wembley. They ground share with Bayern at the Allianz Arena, although their spiritual home is the Grunwalder Stadion in the south of the city. U-Bahn line 6 from Marienplatz reaches the stadium stop at Frottmaning in around 20 minutes. Tickets cost €21 to €32 for a seat, and €11 for a terrace place. The nearest airpor is Munich's Franz-Joseph Strauss which is around 15 miles to the north. More details can be found 
VfL Osnabruck - Osnabruck - Osnatel Arena - Capacity: 16,130. After promotion from the Regionalliga Nord two seasons ago they finihed in 12th place last season. The newly rebuilt stadium was finished last season and should give them an advantage this season in terms of home support. The stadium is located in the north of the town centre wuth Line 71 running from the station to the ground on Bohmter Strasse. The nearest airport is Osnabruck which is served daily by Air Berlin from London Stansted. Ticket prices are €24 to €35 for a seat and €8 to €12 for a terrace place. 
1. FC Kaiserslautern - Kaiserslautern - Fritz Walter Stadion - Capacity: 48,500. It is only a decade since they were regularly pushing for a UEFA Cup spot, showing the measure of their decline on the pitch. The stadium was redeveloped for the 2006 World Cup finals and sits high above the town. It is a 10 minute walk uphill from the central station (and a 5 minute walk down!). Seats start from €15 to €35 whilst a standing place on the western kop will cost €9. The nearest airport is Karlsruhe Baden-Baden which is around 35 miles north east, and served daily by Ryanair from London Stansted. More details can be found 
FC Augsburg - Augsburg - Rosenaustadion - Capacity: 32,354. Only 5 years since they were in the Oberliga they seem to have found their natural position in the German leagues. Augsburg is located 30 miles west of Munich, and the nearest airport is Munich Franz-Joseph Strauss which is around 50 miles away. The stadium is located in the south of the town and can be reached by a 10 minute walk from Polizeiprasidium, which is served by Trollybus 1 from the central station. Tickets are €7 to €28 this season for a seat, and €9 for a standing place behind the goal.
Rot-Weiss Ahlen - Ahlen - Wersestadion - Capacity: 11,500. Promoted from the regional leagues last season they will be one of the smallest teams in the Bundesliga 2 this season. They will play at the recently redeveloped Wersestadion this season,, located a 10 minute walk from the central station. Ticket prices are €13 to €23 this season, and €9 for a terrace place.
Rot-Weiss Oberhausen - Oberhausen - Stadion Niederrhein - Capacity: 21,318. Another promoted team last season, finishing in 2nd place in Regionalliga Nord last season. They have played at this level regularly, the last time in 2004/05. The stadium is located just south of the Autobahn 42, and served by bus 122 from the central station. Ticket prices this season are €9 to €23 for a seat and €8 for a terrace spot.
FSV Frankfurt - Frankfurt - Commerzbank Arena - Capacity: 53,024. Promoted as Regionalliga Sud champions last season they will be aiming to build on their recent success and push onwards. They play at the World Cup stadium this season, although the thousands of empty seats may see them move back to the smaller Brentanobod stadium. However, for the time being tickets will cost €15 to €35 for a seat and €9 for a terrace spot. More details can be found 