Page 56 - Soccer360 Issue 107

EPL SEASON REVIEW
SEASON PREVIEW
2024-25
Kiel, Top:
Holstein Kiel will be navigating unfamiliar territory after securing top flight status for the first time
in club history during.
Hoffenheim, Top: Hoffenheim face stronger competition
for a European place in 2024-25
Mainz, Top:
Bo Henriksen successfully kept Mainz in the Bundesliga last term
RB Leipzig, Top:
Xavi Simons will aim to continue his exciting development with RB Leipzig
‘VINCENT
KOMPANY
KNOWS HE
HAS LITTLE
MARGIN
KEY PLAYER
LAST SEASON
LAST SEASON
LAST SEASON
FOR ERROR
KEY PLAYER
KEY PLAYER
AFTER
BEING
APPOINTED
BAYERN MUNICH
BOSS’
HOFFENHEIM
FINISH: 7th place RECORD: 13-7-14
MOST GOALS: Beier (16)
HOLSTEIN KIEL
FINISH: 2nd (2. Bundesliga) RECORD: 21-5-8
MOST GOALS: Skrzybski (10)
MAINZ
FINISH: 13th place RECORD: 7-14-13
MOST GOALS: Burkardt (8)
Despite shipping a whopping 66 goals
last season - their worst defensive
record in the Bundesliga in a decade - Hoffenheim nonetheless did enough to secure European football for the 2024-25 campaign. However, they have now seen key player Maximilian Beier depart in a big money move to Borussia Dortmund, and while they have still retained the services of loyal servant Andrej Kramaric, it remains to be seen how Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team are able to successfully compete
on multiple fronts over the course of the season. This is especially as Hoffenheim are expected to face fiercer competition in the race for European qualification.
Andrej Kramaric
For the first time in the club’s history, Holstein Kiel will be playing in the Bundesliga. Die Störche secured their spot after finishing second in the 2.Bundesliga, and will be the Bundesliga’s 58th debutant plus the first team from the Schleswig- Holstein to participate in the top-flight. Naturally, there is a great deal of excitement about the newest kids on the block, but they’ve been dealt some big setbacks at the start of the term. Key players Tom Rothe and Philipp Sander have since departed, and there are concerns about how Marcel Rapp’s team took their foot off the gas
last season to end up losing out on the 2.Bundesliga title. As such, the jury’s still out as to whether they will avoid the drop this term.
Benedikt Pichler
Mainz had a tough time last season, with just one win in their first 21 games seeing them dangerously close to relegation. The club finally were forced into action and brought in Bo Henriksen to turn things around - and that’s exactly what he did. Save for a heavy defeat to Bayern Munich, Mainz were mostly solid in his three months in charge and successfully secured a 13th placed finish. All in all, one can assume that Henriksen’s goal in his first full season will be to try to fully steady the wobbly ship and ensure that Mainz avoid being sucked into another relegation scrap.
Lee Jae-sung
54 SOCCER360