The 2026/27 Bundesliga 2 season gets underway on Friday, 7th August, before a full round of fixtures takes place across the weekend as 18 clubs begin the battle for promotion to the German top-flight.
The top two secure automatic promotion, while the third-placed side enters a promotion play-off against the team finishing third from bottom in the Bundesliga.
At the other end of the table, the bottom two are relegated automatically and the side in 16th faces a relegation play-off.
Relegated trio Wolfsburg, St. Pauli and Heidenheim join another stacked second tier featuring several historic German clubs and Hannover look capable of making up for narrowly missing out on promotion last season.
German Bundesliga 2 Prediction and Tips
Best Bet: Hannover to win Bundesliga 2 @ 6/1
Wolfsburg head the outright market after suffering relegation from the Bundesliga after 29 straight seasons in the top-flight, but Hannover look overpriced at 6/1 to finish above them and claim the title.
Christian Titz's side came agonisingly close to promotion last season, only missing out on the final day before Paderborn won promotion through the play-offs.
Hannover lost the joint-fewest matches in the division and were undone more by an inability to turn draws into victories than any major weakness.
Their foundations remain strong despite losing captain Enzo Leopold to Borussia Mönchengladbach, while recruitment has been encouraging.
Pascal Loretz arrives to replace Nahuel Noll in goal, Jean Hugonet reunites with Titz after impressing at Magdeburg and highly rated teenager Taycan Etcibasi adds another exciting attacking option alongside Benjamin Kallman and Lars Gindorf.
Pre-season has also been encouraging, with Hannover winning all but one of their friendlies, including a convincing 3-0 victory over Dutch side PEC Zwolle.
Wolfsburg will naturally attract plenty of support after relegation, but immediate promotion is never guaranteed and the pressure of expectation can weigh heavily.
Hannover already have an established style under Titz, a settled squad and the experience of last season's near miss, so they represent excellent value to top Bundesliga 2.
Key German Bundesliga 2 Stats
Hannover lost the joint-fewest matches (6) in Bundesliga 2 last season, alongside champions Schalke
Forty-nine of the 154 clubs relegated from the Bundesliga have bounced straight back at the first attempt
Hannover begin the season away to promoted Energie Cottbus before hosting promotion favourites Wolfsburg on matchday two
Following Osnabruck's last six promotions, they've always been relegated either in the first (four times) or second season (twice)
Energie Cottbus are back in Bundesliga 2 after a 12-year absence
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
