From the paper form, Holstein Kiel is favored in the second division northern duel with the newly promoted Eintracht Braunschweig, who are in acute danger of relegation. But the “Storks” don’t let themselves be dazzled by the place in the table of the “Lions”.
“Brunswick absolutely needs points and wants to get out of the bottom,” warned KSV supervisory board member Daniel Jurgeleit, “so it won’t be easy to play there.” The former Bundesliga player, who played for both clubs when he was playing, is expecting a real “fighting game” tonight (6.30 p.m., in the Livecenter on NDR.de) at the Eintracht Stadium.
Opportunity utilization at Holstein a sticking point
Holstein coach Marcel Rapp agreed with the 59-year-old: “There’s a lot of physicality coming at us,” said the football coach. After the bitter 2:3 defeat against relegation-threatened 1. FC Magdeburg last Saturday, the bottom of the table struggled with the lack of efficiency in front of the opposing goal. That was the focus of the training.
Skrzybski and Fridjonsson fit again
Two who know where the opposing goal is will most likely be able to play against BTSV: Steven Skrzybski and Holmbert Aron Fridjonsson. There had been a little question mark behind their bets. Kiel’s top scorer Skrzybski was suffering from a flu infection during the week, but is now 100 percent fit again. Fridjonsson, who is apparently being courted by Hammarby IF, only completed part of the training session because of a horse kiss. “I’m confident he’s playable,” said Rapp.
Rapp decidedly moderated the Swedish first division club’s interest in their Icelandic striker: “Giving up a first eleven player: I find it difficult as a coach.”
Both clubs are banned from using players due to head injuries
In addition to the long-term injuries, Stefan Thesker is also absent from Kiel. The defender got hit in the head with a ball during training and fell over. “It’s nothing worse,” Rapp said, “but there is a return-to-play protocol that we will adhere to.”
This medical requirement of the German Football League (DFL) also applies to Braunschweig: Linus Gechter, who was hit in the head last Sunday in the 2-1 defeat in Darmstadt and had to be taken to the hospital, is not yet allowed on the pitch to return. “Fortunately, the investigations didn’t reveal anything worse,” Eintracht coach Michael Schiele gave the all-clear.
BTSV newcomer Kurucay before starting eleven debut
The table-14. From Braunschweig, Gechter and the long-term injured players are also missing the suspended Nathan de Medina (yellow-red suspension) and Immanuel Pherai (fifth yellow card). Newcomer Hasan Kurucay, on the other hand, can hope for his first start-up: “He’s definitely a candidate. He’s a leader and has introduced himself well,” Schiele said of the defender.
The Lower Saxony team “worked up well” the “bitter” last-minute defeat at the leaders from Darmstadt, said the “Lion” coach, even if they “still burned” “because we deserved a point.” A point that Eintracht could have used: The BTSV is only one point ahead of the relegation place.
Schiele: “Have to learn lessons from the first leg”
Braunschweig are therefore under pressure against Kiel, who have seven points more on the points account. In the first leg, the “Storks” won 3-0. “We had to learn our lessons from that, but we weren’t without a chance,” said Schiele, adding: “We’re hoping for a better outcome on Friday.”
Possible lineups:
Eintracht Braunschweig: Fejzic – Wiebe, Decarli, Kurucay – Marx, Nikolaou, Donkor – Kaufmann, Endo – Lauberbach, Wintzheimer
Holstein Kiel: Schreiber – Schulz, Wahl, Lorenz – Holtby – Korb, Sander, Porath, Reese – Skrzybski, Fridjonsson
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NDR 2 Bundesliga show | 02/17/2023 | 6:00 p.m
