The 2. Bundesliga is the second tier of the football pyramid in Germany. It is directly below the Bundesliga, with up to three sides being promoted to the top tier each season. Given the rise in stature of German football in recent years, why not take a look at their second division and see if you can spot any future stars? You might not be an expert, but it could open up some interesting betting opportunities for you.
Founded back in 1974, the second Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2, call it what you will, has changed quite a bit over the years, shifting in size and format. Originally it was the second tier in West Germany. At one stage it was a competition containing two leagues, split between the north and south of the country. It then moved from two divisions of 20 down to the single 18 team league we know today.
In the current system, there are two direct promotion spots to the top flight. The side who finishes third heads into a play-off against the team third bottom in the Bundesliga. That system brought a dramatic two legged affair between Hamburg and Karlsruhe in 2014-15, which made headlines around the world.
In recent years, the Bundesliga has overtaken the English Premier League in Europe, given how well Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have fared. While the 2. Bundesliga hasn’t quite managed to do the same to the Championship, it’s not too far off.
The 2. Bundesliga is the second most watched second tier in the world, just behind its English equivalent. Many fans bet on the Football League, and plenty do the same on European football. Isn’t it about time that you tried a wager or two on the second tier in Germany? Few people would have ever bet on second tier European leagues in the past, but so many bookmakers offer betting odds on the most obscure of leagues these days and the 2. Bundesliga is certainly very well covered by all the best football betting sites.
If you’re interested in betting on the 2. Bundesliga, we have just the thing for you. Our live odds comparison checks for the best prices across all bookmakers, giving you the best possible value. If it’s match odds you’re after or even a both teams to score bet, our odds comparison is the first place you should check. On top of that it includes odds for outright winner and relegation betting markets, so it has all angles covered. These sides might not be up to Bayern’s standards, but they’re an extra option for your accumulator and a great way to boost the odds and find some value.
The second Bundesliga isn’t like the one-sided top tier, as the race for the title is tightly contested in the second division. The battle for promotion is usually a very closely fought contest, as shown by the competitiveness of the play-off between the leagues.
That level playing field does help enhance the things people tend to enjoy about German football. The fans are just as entertaining in the second tier, possibly even more so given that they are fighting it out for promotion. Right now the league is probably as strong as it has ever been, and things are continuing to improve.
Now that you’re up to date with the history of the 2. Bundesliga, why not check out the betting odds? Here you’ll find everything you need to have a punt on the latest games, or the season outcomes. With our odds comparison, you have access to the best value live odds, ensuring you get the biggest odds and most profit on every bet.