2. Bundesliga Updates: Fürth and Bielefeld in relegation zone
Here are the latest updates from the ludicrous league that is the 2. Bundesliga through Matchday 8.
Offensively explosive Paderborn lead the second division after tallying 19 points from their first eight games, with a massive goal difference of 16. Felix Platte has six goals already, as Lukas Kwasniok's side are absolutely flying through opponents, including a 7-2 drubbing over Holstein Kiel.
Striker Robert Glatzel is again playing well at Hamburg, who join the league leaders as the current likeliest candidates to receive promotion. But, clubs such as Heidenheim, Darmstadt and Düsseldorf are right on their tail. After Hannover's poor start to the campaign, former Fürth manager Stefan Leitl has Die Roten sitting 6th without a loss in five matches.
Many fans thought Nürnberg could be title challengers this year, especially with the addition of speedster Kwadwo Duah up front, but they're struggling to score with only nine goals recorded. But, Nürnberg can at least find themselves above 2. Bundesliga newbies Fürth and Arminia Bielefeld.
Teams such as Magdeburg, Jahn Regensburg and Eintracht Braunschweig were supposed to be the favorites to go down, not the two clubs who just left the top flight. Fürth sit winless at the bottom of the table, while Bielefeld are 16th in what's been a shocking return to the second division for both sides.
Bielefeld sacked Uli Forte after four straight losses to begin league play, while Marc Schneider somehow still coaches Fürth (for now). And this is exactly why the 2. Bundesliga has so many surprises every single year.
Expect the unexpected.