D2 Promotion Push

Ten teams are still plausibly in with a chance to go up from D2 with five games left to play:

57 points has been enough in recent seasons to guarantee a playoff place. Realistically, the final two playoff spots are between Hertha, Udinese, Sporting, Schalke and Celtic.

It would be an amazing first for Celtic, who look certain to finish in their highest ever position barring an end of season wipeout.

If Schalke can make the playoffs it will be their best finish since S13.

Sporting had their best ever season in S20 when they finished 4th in D2, although last season they narrowly avoided relegation.

Udinese have reached the playoffs in two of the last four seasons under manager Mark Stewart. They must be a good bet to do it again this time.

Hertha’s history shows steady evolution from a D5 side to D1 under three progressive managers, Mark Stewart (three consecutive division titles), Rahul (D3 title), and Dan W (promotion to D1).

After a couple of impressive top six finishes in D1, manager Regan Thompson chose revolution over evolution resulting in a couple of yo-yo seasons before settling in mid-table of D2.

With 65 points needed to be “certain” of promotion in the top three, Manchester City are as good as there, Levante look set to follow them, and the final automatic place will be between Milan, Stoke and Internacional.

Internacional have won the D2 title twice before under former boss Roberto Downinho (now at Cruzeiro) in S7 and S11. They also won the D2 playoffs in S16 under Nuno Marques just before I drove him crazy.

Since their promotion to the top flight in S7, they’ve never spent more than two consecutive seasons in D2. This is their second consecutive season in D2 under new boss Paul Masters, so the fans will have high expectations….

Stoke made the D2 playoffs in three of manager Seb C(ampillo)’s nine previous seasons as manager, winning the final in S15.

Milan look set for their best finish under manager Andrew Bailey, building on a series of impressive cup wins in the previous two seasons. They’ve been promoted from D2 on four previous occasions – in S3 (Beddows), S9 (title under Paddy D), and S14 and S16 (including a playoff final win under Alex Borel).

Although they’ve never managed to play more than two consecutive seasons in D1, this is Milan’s fifth consecutive season in D2, the longest they’ve spent out of the top flight in their history.

79 points are required to guarantee the title in D2.

That’s just out of reach for Levante, but they look sure to push Manchester City all the way to secure their second promotion to D1 in ten seasons under manager Salvatore Zerbo.

Manager Alex McLean is in his third spell as City boss. His best ever season was his first, finishing fifth in D1 in S7, improving one place on Paddy D’s sixth place finish the previous season.

A rebuild and relegation followed, but it was Mark Deadman who took them back to D1 in S13. City enjoyed eight seasons in D1 under Deadman and Doc (aka Jamie H), until McLean return for a third time and relegated them in his first season back at the helm.

He looks set to make amends this time around and could win City their first ever title.