Match Preview vs Holstein Kiel

Opponents Focus: 

Kiel were a side that impressed last season and tipped us to the relegation play of place, almost gaining automatic promotion. This year it just hasn’t quite clicked for Die Störche as the currently sit in one point above the opposite relegation play off place. Ole Werner’s tenure at the club came to an end early on this season following the stuttering start to this campaign. His replacement Marcel Rapp has seen some more positive results but Kiel yet to get there season truly underway. 

Familiar faces in the Kiel ranks with former striker Jan-Fietre Arp leading the line for our northern opponents and Lewis Holtby another notable figure recently signed for the Storks. Still remaining the youngest ever goal-scorer for HSV, he made the move from Bayern München in the summer. 

Only two defeats in five in their previous fixtures which included draws with Darmstadt and fellow strugglers Ingolstadt. Their last victory came over our previous league opponents Paderborn in what was a surprising result given the form of both teams. Kiel crashed out of the cup on Tuesday night during the Englische Woche to the hands of Bundesliga Hoffenheim. A resounding 5-1 victory for the side in the top flight which include a double of own goals for the storks. 

The Match Facts : 

Still no win against Kiel
After relegation, HSV met KSV Holstein Kiel six times. So far, not a single victory has been achieved. In their first season in the 2.Liga, a 0:3 loss at the start of the season and then1:3 at the Förde, incidentally with Tim Walter as the Kiel coach. After that, there were four draws (3x 1:1, 1x 3:3). In the last encounter in Hamburg, the visitors took a 1:0 lead through Jae-sung Lee, Simon Terodde equalised shortly afterwards. Now it's about time for a win.

Dangerous until the end
"My team believes in itself until the end," head coach Tim Walter has often stressed. The numbers confirm him. No other team scored more goals in the final quarter than HSV. With seven goals, they are top of the standings This has already resulted in eight more points on the account against Schalke (3:1), Sandhausen (2:1), Nürnberg (2:2), Aue (1:1) and Paderborn (2:1). In addition, the Red Shorts conceded the fewest goals in the final quarter of an hour (1).

Game against the Ex's
When HSV and KSV Holstein Kiel meet, it is also the reunion of many former players with their ex-club. Tim Walter (45) coached the Störche in the 2018/19 season, while David Kinsombi (25, at Kiel from 2017-2019) will meet his former club on the Hamburg side, as will Jonas Meffert (27,2018-2021 at the Förde). Kiel have three former Rothosen in the squad with Fiete Arp (21), Lewis Holtby (31) and Finn Porath (24), plus the injured Ahmet Arslan (27). Co-coach Dirk Bremser (56) also has Hamburg experience on the sidelines.