How Styopa Mkrtchyan and Grant-Leon Ranos Spent the Season in Germany

The 2025/26 season in the German 2. Bundesliga has come to an end, and for two Armenia national team players — Styopa Mkrtchyan and Grant-Leon Ranos — it turned into a transitional year. Both footballers started the campaign at one club and moved to Germany during the winter: Mkrtchyan joined Nürnberg, while Ranos went on loan to Eintracht Braunschweig.

However, their situations were quite different. Mkrtchyan arrived at Nürnberg more as a player for the future, while Ranos was looking for regular playing time after a difficult spell at Borussia Mönchengladbach. For both, the final assessment of the season is mixed.

2. Bundesliga: Who Earned Promotion

Schalke won the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season and returned to the top division under the leadership of the ever-green Edin Džeko. Elversberg also earned direct promotion by finishing second, while Paderborn finished third and will play in the promotion playoffs.

At the other end of the table, Eintracht Braunschweig, where Grant-Leon Ranos spent the second half of the season, fought to avoid relegation. The team narrowly survived, finishing in 15th place. Braunschweig collected 37 points, the same number as two teams below them, but stayed up thanks to additional tie-break criteria.

Grant-Leon Ranos: A Loan Spell Without Goals or Assists

For Grant-Leon Ranos, the season began at Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the first half of the campaign, he received some minutes in the Bundesliga, but mostly as a substitute. For the senior team, Ranos made 8 appearances and scored 1 goal, while averaging only 15 minutes per match.

Before the winter break, the 22-year-old forward also played for Borussia’s reserve team. His statistics there were much stronger: 4 matches, 2 goals and 4 assists.

In January, Ranos moved on loan to Eintracht Braunschweig. On paper, it was a chance to get more playing time in the 2. Bundesliga, but the Armenian forward was unable to secure a regular place in the team. He played 11 matches for Braunschweig but did not register a goal or an assist.

Ranos started three matches, but in each of them he was substituted after the break. He came off the bench eight more times and remained an unused substitute in three games. On average, he spent 30 minutes on the pitch per match. In most cases, he was used not as a central striker, but on the right wing.

Ranos’ Key Stats in the 2. Bundesliga

Eintracht Braunschweig

Ranos’ Key Stats in the Bundesliga

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Ranos is unlikely to remain at Eintracht Braunschweig. He joined the club on loan with an option to buy, but considering his limited playing time and lack of goal contributions, it is difficult to expect Braunschweig to activate that clause. In the summer, the Armenian forward is expected to return to Borussia Mönchengladbach, after which he will likely continue searching for a new club.

Styopa Mkrtchyan: Move to Nürnberg and Injury at the End of the Season

Armenia national team defender Styopa Mkrtchyan also changed clubs in the winter, but his situation was different from Ranos’. Mkrtchyan moved to Nürnberg from Croatian side Osijek on a permanent transfer, not on loan.

The first part of the season in Croatia was quite positive for Styopa. He played 17 matches for Osijek, including 13 starts, provided 1 assist and generally looked like a reliable defensive option.

At Nürnberg, Mkrtchyan’s playing time was limited. He made only 3 appearances, starting twice and coming on once as a substitute. In April, the Armenian defender suffered an injury, which will also force him to miss Armenia’s upcoming national team matches.

It is important to note that Mkrtchyan was not initially signed as an immediate replacement for Nürnberg’s first-choice defenders. He came in as a rotation player and as an option for the future. Miroslav Klose’s Nürnberg finished the season in 8th place, and the next campaign could be much more important for Styopa in terms of fighting for a regular spot in the team.

Mkrtchyan’s Key Stats in the 2. Bundesliga

Nürnberg

Mkrtchyan’s Key Stats in the Croatian SuperSport HNL

Osijek

Who Had the Better Season?

Looking only at the German part of the season, neither Ranos nor Mkrtchyan became a key player for their teams. However, the context is different.

Ranos played more matches in the 2. Bundesliga, but he was unable to turn his loan spell into a productive breakthrough. For an attacking player, going 11 matches without a goal or an assist is a worrying sign, especially considering that he badly needed consistent playing time.

Mkrtchyan, on the other hand, played only three matches in Germany, but his move looks more long-term. He had a solid first half of the season at Osijek, joined Nürnberg on a permanent deal and appears to be viewed by the club as a player for the future. His main problem was the injury that interrupted his adaptation and temporarily ruled him out of the Armenia squad.

Conclusion

The 2025/26 season became a period of change for Styopa Mkrtchyan and Grant-Leon Ranos. Both Armenia national team players moved to the 2. Bundesliga in the winter, but neither has fully established himself in Germany yet.

For Ranos, the summer could be a crucial period in his career. He needs to find a club where he can play regularly in his natural role and receive real trust from the coaching staff.

For Mkrtchyan, the priority is to recover from injury and complete a full pre-season with Nürnberg. The next campaign may give him a much better chance to compete for regular minutes.

Both players remain important figures for the Armenia national team, but the 2026/27 season will show whether they can establish themselves at a strong European level and take the next step in their club careers.