6 second-tier heavyweights who’ll take attention from Bundesliga next season

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s second division threatens to take attention away from the Bundesliga next season with several heavyweights competing at the lower level.

Hertha Berlin and Schalke were relegated from the top flight, joining the likes of Hamburger SV, Nurnberg, Kaiserslautern, Hannover and Fortuna Dusseldorf — all teams playing in stadiums with a capacity of at least 50,000.

Only five of 18 teams in the Bundesliga next season can boast such numbers. Promoted Heidenheim will play its first season in Germany’s top flight at the 15,000-capacity Albstadion. Union Berlin plays at the 22,000-capacity Stadion An der Alten Forsterei and may have to move for Champions League games after clinching a spot in Europe’s top club competition.

When Hertha hosts Hamburg in its 75,000-capacity Olympiastadion, or Schalke hosts Kaiserslautern in front of 62,000 fans in Gelsenkirchen, the games will draw more attention than many first-division matches.

Here’s a closer look at some of the clubs t

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