FC St. Pauli

Rousing return

Kiel celebrated their return to the second tier after a 36-year absence in summer. And with 13 points from their first six matches, they have made an excellent start to the campaign. Markus Anfang's side are the league's highest-scoring team, having already netted 15 times and scored at least twice in every game, including the DFB Cup tie against Braunschweig. They have also conceded nine goals, however, though they did keep their first clean sheet last time out, winning 3-0 at Erzgebirge Aue.

Vote of confidence

In centre-forward Mathias Fetsch, who opted to stay in the third division and moved to Hallescher FC on a free transfer, just one first-team regular left the Storks during the close season. The promotion-winning squad has stayed together, then, and has been strengthened by the addition of several players with second-division experience. Looking at the togetherness in the squad in the first few matches, this is certainly one of the reasons for the successful start to the campaign.

Magic Marvin

FCSP striker Marvin Ducksch joined Kiel on an 18-month loan deal back in January and is clearly enjoying his football there. In the second half of last season he scored five goals and made four more in 16 appearances, and this term he tops the second division goalscoring chart with five goals. The striker has registered 25 attempts on goal in the five first games alone – more than anyone else in the league. Ducksch has been the complete offensive package thus far. Including his winner in the 2-1 DFB Cup defeat of Braunschweig, he has scored three times with his right foot, one with his left, one with his head and one from a direct free-kick.

Dribbler Drexler

Holstein's Dominick Drexler has already attempted 23 attacking dribbles this season, a figure matched only by Nürnberg's Tim Leibold and Sandhausen's Nejmeddin Daghfous. Drexler, who leads the points rankings along with Aue's Pascal Köpke (two goals and three assists each), has successfully completed 12 of his 23 dribbles, as has Leibold. In comparison, FCSP wide man Waldemar Sobota occupies fifth place with 20 dribbles, successfully completing half of them.

And the flag goes up

The referee's assistants have been kept very busy whenever Kiel have played this season, especially when it comes to offside decisions. No other team has been flagged offside more times (15 times in the first five matches). The Boys in Brown, in contrast, have been caught offside just eight times.

Double injury blow

Kiel forward Manuel Janzer has had an up-and-down few days. After scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 defeat of Kaiserslautern last Saturday, he tore an Achilles tendon in training on Tuesday. The injury will leave Janzer sidelined for several months. Teammate Christopher Lenz is also set for a lengthy layoff after pulling an adductor muscle at the end of August.

Photos: Witters