2. Bundesliga: Hertha held to frustrating goalless draw by Holstein Kiel

Stefan Leitl’s side travelled to the Holstein-Stadion looking to make it eight consecutive league victories, but a string of impressive saves from Timon Weiner ensured the hosts claimed a valuable point despite remaining without a league win this season.

Hertha started on the front foot and immediately looked to exploit their attacking quality, pressing high and forcing Kiel into mistakes during the opening stages. Oluwaseun Adewumi was particularly dangerous, with the winger twice denied by Weiner inside the opening 15 minutes.

Kiel gradually found their footing and began to offer more of a threat going forward. Jonas Therkelsen saw an effort blocked inside the Hertha penalty area in the 22nd minute, prompting appeals from the home supporters, although referee Jarno Wienefeld correctly waved play on.

The Kiel goalkeeper was again called into action in the 27th minute when Julian Eitschberger delivered a dangerous cross towards Sebastian Grønning. Weiner got a vital touch to prevent the striker from converting from close range, before Deyovaisio Zeefuik fired the rebound over the crossbar.

Grønning was denied once more four minutes later after being played through by Paul Seguin, with Weiner making another important stop to preserve the hosts’ clean sheet.

The hosts finished the first half with greater confidence and came close to taking the lead in the 43rd minute. Phil Harres rose to meet a cross from the left, but Marius Gersbeck reacted well to parry the header away.

Despite their early dominance, Hertha went into the interval frustrated at their inability to turn their chances into a goal.

The visitors resumed with renewed attacking intent after the break, but Kiel continued to rely on Weiner, who denied Adewumi again in the 49th and 53rd minutes.

Kiel suffered a setback in the 50th minute when Sebastian Schonlau, making his debut for the club, was forced off after receiving treatment for an injury. David Zec replaced the defender as Tim Walter was forced into an early change.

Hertha continued to dictate the tempo and came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute. Adewumi delivered a cross from the right, allowing Grønning to direct a header towards goal from around six yards, only for the effort to strike the post.

Walter responded to the increasing pressure by making a double substitution in the 64th minute, introducing Ikem Ugoh and Gyan de Regt for Till Wiese and Guillermo Balzi.

Leitl also looked to freshen up his attack five minutes later, bringing on Mads Pedersen and Luca Schuler for Eitschberger and Grønning as Hertha continued to search for a breakthrough.

The visitors remained on the front foot, but Kiel defended resolutely and Weiner continued to provide the hosts with the security they needed to stay in the contest.

David Zec was booked in the 68th minute for bringing down Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson, while Hertha struggled to find the decisive pass against a well-organised Kiel defence.

With the hosts offering little attacking threat in the second half, Hertha had opportunities to take control of the contest but lacked the finishing touch required to turn their pressure into three points as Pedersen diverted an effort narrowly wide at the death, summing up the visitors night in front of goal. 

Ultimately, neither side could find a winner, leaving Hertha to settle for their first dropped points of the campaign and Kiel with a hard-earned clean sheet.

For Walter’s side, the result offers encouragement after a difficult start to the season despite remaining winless, while Hertha will be disappointed not to have made their dominance count as their winning run came to an end.