There’s a lot at stake in Kiel’s game this weekend, as the two sides are fighting very different battles. Marcel Rapp’s hosts looked nervously over their shoulders, while Myron Muslic’s Schalke were desperate to stabilize themselves in the promotion race.
Kierholstein has struggled to find a rhythm since the beginning of the year. Although they kicked off Rooklund’s campaign with a win, they have picked up just one point, a draw and two defeats in the three games since. This inconsistent run has pulled them into the bottom half of the standings. They are in 12th place but were just two points away from a relegation play-off place before the weekend.
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In the last game, Kiel lost 1-3 away to Hannover and had a mediocre performance. They fell behind by two goals within 20 minutes and never really recovered. Phil Harres’ second-half goal narrowed the deficit and briefly gave the team hope of 2-1, but the Storks were unable to build on their efforts and eventually conceded a third goal to end the game.
Defender Niklas Niehov called for a domestic response:
“We know we haven’t been good in the last few games and we want to do better against Schalke. It’s about continuing to come together as a team and putting the basics into practice on the pitch.”
Schalke’s start to 2026 is equally frustrating, albeit for different reasons. The ambitious team struggled in the first few weeks of the year, drawing three of their four matches and losing one. The game cost them top spot, with Darmstadt now in front and Schalke a point behind in second.
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Their 2-2 draw with Dresden last week summed up their recent fragility. Schalke took a two-goal lead at home thanks to Edin Dzeko’s brace, before a series of costly mistakes allowed the relegation-threatened visitors to grab a point with two late goals. It’s yet another example of points slipping through your fingers at a critical stage of the campaign.
Despite the sway, the music remains calm:
“We are going through a difficult period. Other teams have been through this before. We will also find solutions,” before adding that “the solutions lie within the team.”
Kiel won the reverse match at the Veltins Arena, winning 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Alexander Bernhardsson. Schalke have won just one of the last five meetings between the sides, while Marcel Rupp has a strong personal record against the Royal Blues, with three wins and a draw from four meetings.
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Team news
Kierholstein: Long-term absentees Alexander Bernhardsen and Karl Johnson remain sidelined. Steven Skrzybski and Umut Tohumcu are also absent.
Schalke 04: Vitaly Becker, Adrian Gantenbein, Emil Hojlund, Thomas Karas, Brian Rasmus and Henning Matriciani are all absent.
Predicted lineup
Kierholstein (4-2-3-1): Krumlay (GK) – Nekic, Zeke, Ivezic, Komenda-Mevert, Davidson-Nijhoff, Kraty, Kapralik-Hares
Schalke 04 (3-4-2-1): Karius (GK) – Kulusei, Katic, Ayhan T. Becker, Elfaouzi, Schallenberg, Ndiaye – Ljubicic, Klarman – Dzeko
