Holstein Kiel vs 1. FC Nürnberg: Leaders test injury-hit hosts
Holstein Kiel welcome 1. FC Nürnberg to the Holstein-Stadion in Kiel on Saturday afternoon for a 2. Bundesliga Matchday 4 showdown. The visitors arrive top of the table with a perfect record, while Kiel are still chasing their first league victory of the campaign amid an extensive injury list.
Team News and Injury Latest
Holstein Kiel’s treatment room is crowded. Andu Kelati (thigh tendon), Sebastian Schonlau (muscle fibre tear), Steven Skrzybski (foot contusion), Taisei Abe (back) and Giorgi Kvilitaia (muscle) are all making good progress but remain unavailable. Moritz Reimers is also sidelined after suffering a torn ankle ligament, while long-term absentees Lasse Rosenboom (syndesmosis ligament tear) and Frederik Roslyng (meniscus) continue their rehabilitation.
- FC Nürnberg head north with a clean bill of health and a settled side. Jan Reichert started the season in top form between the posts, making several fine saves in last weekend’s comfortable win over Arminia Bielefeld. Further forward, Markhiev added his name to the scoresheet with a long-range strike that needed no deflection – a goal that underlined the confidence coursing through the league leaders.
Form Guide: Nürnberg Flying High
Nürnberg have taken maximum points from their opening two fixtures, scoring seven times and conceding only two. The 3‑1 victory at home to Bielefeld followed an opening‑day success, making them one of only two sides with a 100% record after three rounds – Hertha BSC are the other. A DFB‑Pokal penalty shootout win last week kept the momentum rolling.
Kiel, by contrast, are still waiting for a first league win under Tim Walter. Back‑to‑back 2‑2 draws against Darmstadt and St. Pauli have left them in mid‑table, and although they progressed in the Pokal, the fragility at the back – four goals conceded in two league matches – is a concern. The Störche have not lost at home yet, but they have yet to face an opponent in Nürnberg’s form.