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BUNDESLIGA 2018-19: Guide to the promoted teams

Posted August 21, 2018 7:00 am

By CIARAN FAHEY

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 3, 2018 photo Michael Koellner, head coach of the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Nuremberg attends the new season's first training session in Nuremberg, Germany. (Timm Schamberger/dpa via AP, file) The Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) - A look at Fortuna Duesseldorf and Nuremberg, the promoted teams preparing for their return to the Bundesliga this weekend.

Duesseldorf hosts Augsburg and Nuremberg visits Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

FORTUNA DUESSELDORF

Duesseldorf is back as second-division champion after beating Nuremberg 3-2 on the final day of last season.

Experienced coach Friedhelm Funkel stabilized the side after arriving in March 2016 and led the club to a sixth promotion in his second season.

Founded in 1895, Duesseldorf last played in the Bundesliga in 2013. The club's fortunes have been mixed since it won the German championship in 1933. Its best days came with German Cup wins in 1979 and 1980. Of all the sides in the Bundesliga, only Hertha (1892) and Stuttgart (1893) have been around longer.

Rouwen Hennings finished as the team's leading scorer last season with 13 goals in 33 appearances. The club has not made any big signings, but forward Dodi Lukebakio has arrived on loan from Watford, striker Marvin Ducksch was signed from Holstein Kiel and midfielder Matthias Zimmermann from Stuttgart.

NUREMEBERG

Eight-time German champion Nuremberg is back in the Bundesliga after a four-year absence.

Michael Koellner is enjoying his first coaching role after being promoted from Nuremberg's reserve side in May 2017. A qualified dental assistant, the 48-year-old Koellner worked for 15 years with the German soccer federation before turning to coaching. He also co-write a book, "Your way to becoming a football professional," for young players, parents and coaches.

Nuremberg captain Hanno Behrens is the team's driving force, chipping in 14 goals last season from midfield. Swedish striker Mikael Ishak added another 12 for a team that finished with 12 different scorers.

Added to the mix for this season is Japanese striker Yuya Kubo, signed on loan from Belgian side Gent.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 3, 2018 photo Michael Koellner, head coach of the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Nuremberg talks to players during the new season's first training session in Nuremberg, Germany. (Timm Schamberger/dpa via AP, file) The Associated Press

File - In this Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018 photo Nuremberg's Mikael Ishak, left, and his teammate Adam Zrelak, right, celebrate during a German soccer cup match against SV Linx in Kehl, Germany. (Patrick Seeger/dpa via AP, file) The Associated Press

File - In this Friday, July 13, 2018 photo Friedhelm Funkel, head coach of the German first division, Bundesliga, soccer team Fortuna Duesseldorf, poses during the official season's photo call in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Roland Weihrauch/dpa via AP, file) The Associated Press

File - In this Friday,May 6, 2018 photo Friedhelm Funkel, head coach of the German first division, Bundesliga, soccer team Fortuna Duesseldorf, celebrates during a second division, Bundesliga, soccer match between Fortuna Duesseldorf and Holstein Kiel in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP, file) The Associated Press

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