Regensburg the surprise leaders of 2. Bundesliga after 5 games: What are they doing right?

Heading into the international break, the most unpredictable league in Europe has kept to its brand in the new season, throwing up an unlikely team in the lead of the 2. Bundesliga after five games. In a league where there is Werder Bremen, Schalke and Hamburg, it’s SSV Jahn Regensburg who have surprised the most in the opening month; winning four, losing one and scoring 12 goals on the way.

With a team whose value is 1/6th of Schalke’s and is 12th out of 18th in the league in the same metric, why and how are they doing so well?

Out Of Possession

Regensburg play in a 4–2–2–2 out of possession, this helps them to be intense, build their principle of play around blocking the central areas of the pitch to force their opponents wide and isolate them in the wingzones. Additionally, their man-to-man marking tactic also adds extra pressure.

The “2–2" (pivot players + 10s/wingers) in midfield of the formation are positioned in a box shape, this allows them to block passing lanes into the halfspaces, as they’re naturally occupied. At the same time, they can step out and put pressure on their opponent’s in wide areas. Another advantage of Regensburg playing this is that they are also in a solid structure to collect second balls.