2. Bundesliga preview: Holstein Kiel vs. Hertha BSC

Hertha BSC will look to maintain their perfect start to the 2026/27 2. Bundesliga season when they travel north to face a struggling Holstein Kiel side on Friday.

Stefan Leitl’s side have won all seven of their opening league fixtures, collecting 21 points from a possible 21 to establish themselves at the top of the table. With 19 goals scored and eight conceded, Hertha have also demonstrated their attacking quality, although they will be wary of a Kiel team desperate to turn their season around.

For the hosts, the situation is becoming increasingly concerning. Tim Walter’s side remain without a league victory after seven matches and sit bottom of the table. Friday’s meeting with the division’s form team represents a significant challenge, but also an opportunity to produce a much-needed response in front of their home supporters.

Holstein Kiel looking for a response

Holstein Kiel head into Friday’s encounter under mounting pressure after suffering a 1-0 defeat away to Eintracht Braunschweig in their most recent league outing.

The result extended their winless start to the campaign, leaving Walter searching for answers as his team struggle to find consistency. With Hertha arriving in excellent form, Kiel will need a significant improvement if they are to claim their first three points of the season.

Walter, however, believes Holstein Kiel can cause an upset against the league leaders, despite their contrasting starts to the season.

Speaking ahead of Friday’s fixture, the Kiel coach said: “They are unbeaten, but they are not unbeatable. It’s eleven against eleven.”

The 50-year-old also believes that facing the league leaders could work in his side’s favour, with Kiel able to approach the contest as underdogs rather than the team expected to dictate proceedings.

“Hertha has a very good team. But in this match, we aren’t the favorites, and no one is really counting on us. That could work to our advantage - the fact that our opponent might underestimate us a little.”

Kiel will be hoping to take their prior success against Hertha into this one too, with Tim Walter’s side prevailing 1-0 at the Olympiastadion back in April. 

There is also a boost for Walter in defence, with David Zec available again after serving his suspension. His return provides Kiel with another option at centre-back as they attempt to tighten up against one of the division’s most productive attacks.

However, Kiel are still expected to be without Lasse Rosenboom, Frederyk Roslyng, Hamza Muqaj and Taisei Abe, while Steven Skrzybski and Kasper Davidsen remain doubts.

Hertha BSC aiming to extend remarkable winning run

While Kiel are desperate to get their season going, Hertha arrive in Schleswig-Holstein with momentum firmly on their side.

The capital club have won each of their first seven league matches, establishing a four-point advantage over second-placed Nuremberg ahead of Matchday 8. Their 19 goals underline their attacking threat, with Leitl’s team combining an effective forward line with enough defensive resilience to keep their winning run intact.

Their most recent outing saw them defeat Greuther Fürth 2-1, although Leitl was reportedly less than satisfied with aspects of his side’s performance despite the victory.

That dissatisfaction could prove important ahead of a potentially difficult away fixture. Hertha may be top of the table, but their coach is determined to ensure his players do not underestimate opponents simply because of their league position.

“We will definitely not underestimate them,” Leitl said ahead of the trip to Kiel, emphasising the need for concentration against a side that will be desperate to make a statement.

Hertha are expected to have most of their squad available, although Marton Dardai and Boris Mamuzah Lum are set to miss out. Striker Gustaf Nilsson is also a doubt because of a thigh problem, potentially leaving Luca Schuler to lead the line once again.

There is unlikely to be a major overhaul of the starting eleven following last weekend’s win, although Farid Alfa-Ruprecht could come into contention for a starting place on the wing.

For Hertha, the objective is straightforward: continue collecting points, protect their place at the summit and demonstrate that their impressive opening run is built on more than just early-season momentum.

Predicted lineups

Holstein Kiel (4-4-2): Weiner; Sekine, Zec, Madsen, Parduzi; Kapralik, Meffert, Balzi, Therkelsen; Harres, Kvilitaia

Hertha BSC (4-2-3-1): Gersbeck; Eitschberger, Gechter, Kolbe, Pedersen; Sessa, Seguin; Adewumi, Thorsteinsson, Brekalo; Schuler