Kiel fact file
Thursday, 22. August 2019, 10:00 Uhr
The Boys in Brown contest their second Monday night game of the still young season when Holstein Kiel come to the Millerntor at the beginning of next week. As usual, we've taken a closer look at our forthcoming opponents.
Reunion
For several years, Patrick Borger was the only ex-St. Pauli man on the Holstein Kiel backroom staff. Paddy, as he is known, has worked as goalkeeper coach to the senior team since July 2015 and has now been joined by two former colleagues. First, Kiel named André Schubert (2011-2012) their new head coach and then added Fabian Boll (2002-2016) in the role of assistant coach. The latter had only just taken charge at fifth-tier SC Victoria Hamburg in January, chalking up 12 wins and four defeats in his 16-game reign.
Progress
The Storks were one of the few sides to breeze through their DFB Cup first-round tie, racking up a 6-0 win at fifth-tier outfit FSV Salmrohr. In the next round they will go to fourth-division SC Verl, who caused one of the upsets by knocking out FC Augsburg of the Bundesliga 2-1.
Fairness
Kiel came from behind to beat early front runners Karlsruhe 2-1 last week. Up to the 87th minute of that game they also held the title of fairest team in the league, having picked up just one yellow card. That all changed when Jonas Meffert, up against his former club, went in too hard against Marvin Wanitzek and was given his marching orders, thus becoming the first player in the league to be sent off this season.
Running
Kiel's players ran an impressive 124.58 kilometres in last week's 2-1 defeat of Karlsruhe, more than any other team this season. Because the Storks also covered some distance in the 1-1 draw with Sandhausen (118.87 km) and the 2-0 defeat at Darmstadt (120.15 km), they top the league in this category with a total of 363.6 kilometres. The strongest runners so far are Jae-sung Lee (35.48 km), Jonas Meffert (35.05 km) and Alexander Mühling (34.71 km).
Attempts
The Storks have registered more attempts on goal than any other team this term (59). They have only found the net three times, however, for a conversion rate of just 5.08 per cent. Erzgebirge Aue have been the most efficient side in front of goal so far. Six of their 33 attempts have produced the desired result to date, which equates to a shots-to-goals ratio of 18.18 per cent.
Pace
The Boys in Brown will have to keep their eye on David Atanga on Monday. With a top speed of 34.68 km/h, the fleet-footed winger is Kiel's quickest player by far to date. Atanga, who spent last season at Greuther Fürth on loan from Salzburg and joined the Storks on a permanent deal in summer, is only the third-fastest player in the league, however. Hannover's Linton Maina (34.9 km/h) and own Christian Conteh (34.75 km/h) have been even quicker.
Photos: Eibner
