2nd Bundesliga 30th matchday
Schalke 04 saves a point, but remains in the relegation battle
Status: 19.04.2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes
With a win in Elversberg, FC Schalke 04 would have finally freed themselves from the relegation battle. The promoted team, however, earned a point against the Gelsenkirchen team and ultimately had victory on their hands. The live ticker.
Schalke 04 has to play in Elversberg after three games without defeat. Click here for the live ticker:
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The second division weekend will be dominated by the top game between Hamburger SV and Holstein Kiel (8.30 p.m./Sky and Sport1). The surprise team comes to the top game first. And where Kiel is, HSV would like to be – at least in terms of sport.
The fact that KSV is considered the favorite in the northern duel is seen in Kiel as recognition for the work they have done so far this season. But no one wants to accept the role of favorite. It’s much better to talk about the anticipation.
“Basically I say, if a team goes to HSV’s stadium, then HSV is the favorite. No matter what game,” said new sports director Carsten Wehlmann. In the table the signs are different. “Nevertheless, HSV will be the favorite in 99 percent of such games. But we’re not afraid of that. We’re looking forward to the game.” Midfielder Finn Porath, one of three ex-HSVers in the Holstein squad alongside Lewis Holtby and Fiete Arp, speaks of a “highlight to play there. It doesn’t matter whether we are first or twelfth.”
Holstein Kiel steps out of the shadows
The club remains modest. The German champions of 1912 do not have the charisma of Hamburger SV, nor of FC St. Pauli. Everyone in Kiel knows that. Nevertheless, the club is now recognized both inside and outside the city alongside handball record champions THW Kiel and the “Kieler Woche” sailing festival.
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“Back then there was actually only HSV. “Here in the city and at home in the country there was only HSV,” remembered Porath (27), who was born in Eutin. “Of course I’m happy that some people are now walking around with Kiel jerseys.” For the people in Kiel, it’s still something special “that we’re playing in the 2nd league.”
They may soon have to get used to a new league. If promotion were successful, it would be historic: no club from Schleswig-Holstein has ever played in the Bundesliga. It would be the culmination of a development that began 15 years ago.
Sports managing director Wehlmann is a contemporary witness to the development of the past decade and a half. From 2009 to 2018 he was chief scout and goalkeeping coach in Kiel, saw promotion from the Regionalliga Nord to the 3rd league and in 2017 to the 2nd Bundesliga. In 2018, Wehlmann went to Darmstadt 98 as sporting director for five years and was promoted to the Bundesliga with the Hessians in 2023. The 51-year-old returned in March and is working with Uwe Stöver, who left voluntarily at the end of the season.
“A lot has happened in terms of infrastructure, especially in terms of training conditions, and the number of employees has also increased,” Wehlmann stated after his return. “We have also developed further in terms of sport since I left. And I mean that regardless of the current sporting situation.”
It was not expected that the team would be at the top of the table five game days before the end of the season. 16 players left the club in the summer, including pillars like captain Hauke Wahl (FC St. Pauli) and Fabian Reese (Hertha BSC). Stöver remained true to the Holstein philosophy and, above all, brought in players who were capable of development.
Coach Marcel Rapp formed a unit from them and experienced professionals such as ex-national player Holtby (33) and goalscorer Steven Skrzybski (31). “I’m proud to be part of this team,” said midfield driver Holtby, whose CV also includes clubs like Schalke 04, VfL Bochum, Mainz 05 and Tottenham Hotspur. “Every single person who greets you in the morning is happy to come to football and is excited about the team.”
After five wins without conceding a goal, Kiel is in pole position for promotion. Kiel are one point ahead of St. Pauli, six points ahead of Fortuna Düsseldorf in the promotion relegation spot and nine points ahead of HSV. “We play very passionate football, coupled with substantive football. I think that’s the formula why we are where we are,” explained Rapp (45), who has been on the fjord since October 2021.
Wehlmann sees the club “of course” ready for the eventuality (promotion). “All precautions are being taken so that if the worst happens, we can also play in the league.” The club has shown that it wants to develop little by little. “In this serious and calm environment there is still perspective and potential.”