Match Preview
08.11.19
HSV looking to overturn poor record against Kiel
The Rothosen head to Kiel tomorrow lunchtime (kick-off 1:00pm), looking to gain a first win in five on the road and a first against Kiel in the second tier.
Two games, two defeats. HSV doesn’t have a worse record against any other team in the 2. Bundesliga than Holstein Kiel. With hopes and expectations riding high before the club’s first-ever season in the second tier, the ‘Storks’, as they are affectionately known by their own fans, enjoyed their role as party crashers, meaning that HSV’s premiere in the 2. Liga ended in a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the Volksparkstadion in August 2018. An upturn in form saw the Rothosen head to the Holstein-Stadion just before Christmas 2018 as league leaders, only to once again come off second best against Kiel, losing 3-1, in part due to current HSV midfielder David Kinsombi’s brace. Kinsombi was on target last weekend away at Wiesbaden, as the Rothosen failed to make their extra man and plethora of chances count, conceding from a set piece in injury time to throw away two valuable points. Winless on the road in four attempts, Dieter Hecking will have impressed the importance of a win on his charges during the week, to break the winless run away from home, as well as the poor run against the Storks. With only 95km separating the two cities, the derby feeling will surely only add an extra element of motivation for both sides.
Focus on the hosts
Formed in 1900, Kieler Sportvereinigung Holstein von 1900 e. V. were particularly successful in the first three decades in the club‘s history, winning the German championship in 1912, and coming runners-up in 1910 and 1930. However, the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963, saw the Storks, earning the nickname due to their white kits and red socks, reorganised into the second division, and relegation to the third tier in 1973/74 saw the club begin a trend that would continue for the next four decades. The club flitted between the second and third divisions, before yo-yoing between the third and fourth divisions around the turn of the millennium. Holstein were playing in the Regionalliga Nord as recently as 2012/13, before somewhat stabilising and earning a long-awaited return back to the 2. Liga in 2016/17. Markus Anfang’s side almost completed incredible back-to-back promotions with an impressive first season back in the second tier, only being denied a first-ever promotion to the Bundesliga by VfL Wolfsburg during a two-legged playoff in May 2018.
Opposition scouting report
Current Stuttgart manager Tim Walter guided the Storks to a sixth-place finish last time out before upping sticks and moving to Swabia, as former Mönchengladbach and Braunschweig boss André Schubert took over the reins at the Holstein-Stadion. Five points from the opening six games wasn’t a terrible return yet not enough for Schubert to keep his job, with his superiors in Kiel believing that his philosophy wasn’t in line with the squad at his disposal. 31-year-old Ole Werner took over the job initially on an interim basis, impressing his bosses enough to land the job on a permanent basis after three wins from five, including the impressive scalp of VfB Stuttgart at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Two losses followed the win at the then-league leaders, including an embarrassing second-round exit to fourth-divison SC Verl in the DFB Pokal, meaning that the Storks are sitting in 12th position on 14 points, in a very packed midfield of the 2. Liga table. A win could see Werner’s side climb as high as sixth position.
Werner prefers to set his troops out in a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with Köln loanee and much-tipped youngster Salih Özcan pulling the strings at the top of the diamond in behind Emmanuel Iyoha and Janni Serra. Özcan has failed to truly spring into life so far this campaign, but there is little to deny that the 21-year-old Fritz Walter gold medal winner has what it takes to go all the way to the top, with a lovely first touch, vision and passing ability. Fellow midfielder Jae-sung Lee leads the way for the Storks in the league with six goals and an assist, providing clinical finishing ability with his late runs into the box, whilst Iyoha’s pace and directness up front alongside Serra has caused a whole host of second division defenders problems so far this campaign, not least Arminia Bielefeld last Sunday.
Injury-hit HSV look to end away day blues
Experienced pros Martin Harnik and Aaron Hunt will play no part at the Holstein-Stadion on Saturday lunchtime, with Harnik ruled out until after the international break with a thigh strain, and Aaron Hunt continuing to recover from muscular problems. There was good news for the coaching staff on the other hand, as Daniel Heuer Fernandes has overcome the infection which gripped him earlier in the week, and was able to take part in the final two training sessions before the trip to Kiel. Josha Vagnoman and Jan Gyamerah are both still on the treatment table, with Khaled Narey most likely to fill in again at right-back, as he did against Wiesbaden last Sunday. Former HSV man Törles Knöll’s injury-time equaliser for Wehen was a real hammer blow for the Rothosen, who had looked to be ending their winless away run at the fourth time of asking. As it was, the streak continued, meaning that Arminia Bielefeld were able to move level on points with the leaders after their home win over Kiel, and Stuttgart able to reduce the gap back down to two points. Hamburg will be keen to end their barren run over a local rival, entering the international break with some kind of momentum and looking to distance themselves once again from the chasing pack.
Dieter Hecking on the derby feeling of the game: "A derby is still a derby, even if a regional derby is different to a city one. The conditions are the same for us as always, the opponent starts as the outsider and wants to cause us as many problems as possible. Kiel will throw absolutely everything at us, and we’re going to have to be up for the fight."
Fun facts
Kiel have scored all 14 of their goals this season from open play. In the professional German leagues (Bundesliga – 3.Liga), KSV are the only team without a set piece goal this season.
Hamburg are unbeaten in 6 second division games, with three victories and three defeats. The Rothosen have only had a longer run unbeaten once in the second tier, from September to December 2018 (11 games).
The Storks have already conceded four penalties so far this season, the second-highest amount in the league. They only conceded five penalties in the whole of last season.
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