Ahead of their season opener against Eintracht Braunschweig, second-division club 1. FC Magdeburg is feeling cautiously optimistic. Following a major shakeup this summer, the new team seems to have gelled just in time for the start of the season. Some experts, such as Felix Kroos, even believe the team from Magdeburg has a shot at a top-6 finish.
Ten new signings have been offset by fifteen departures. The team suffered significant personnel losses, particularly in central defense and midfield. The defensive duo of Marcus Mathisen (FC St. Pauli) and Jean Hugonet (Hannover 96) moved to other clubs within the league, and midfielders Silas Gnaka (ML Vitebsk/Belarus), Dariusz Stalmach (Werder Bremen), and Laurin Ulrich (on loan from VfB Stuttgart) also left.