Hertha BSC went into the 2025/26 2nd Bundesliga season as a favorite, but in the end, it's a team that failed to meet expectations. Hertha BSC actually has the promotion gene. Six times, the Berliners have risen to the Bundesliga. But in the 2025/26 season, promotion number seven was clearly missed. The Hertha players have a market value of over 60 million euros. No other team in the 2nd Bundesliga exceeds the mark of 50 million euros. The Hertha players belong to the best-paid in the 2nd Bundesliga. Top star Fabian Reese is to receive a salary of almost two million euros. Some other players are approximately in the million range. The Berliners compete in the largest stadium in the 2nd Bundesliga. With a capacity of almost 74,000 spectators, Hertha could become an absolute home force. But just here is a flaw. The team of coach Stefan Leitl could only win six of his 17 home games; in total, 23 points at home in the home table are not even enough for a single-digit table position. The Berliners have thus given up the promotion at home. The question remains: Was it not enough to play defensively standing opponents out? Or was the expectation of the professionals too great in home games? Maybe it was a mix of both factors. Because 16 goals in home games are the weakest value in the 2nd Bundesliga. Every competitor scored at least 20 times in front of their own audience. On the other hand, the Hertha players scored 30 goals away.