Holstein Kiel faces FC St. Pauli on Friday, August 14, at the Holstein‑Stadion – the northern derby of the second 2. Bundesliga matchday. Coach Tim Walter lines up his side while former Kiel players Sebastian Schonlau and Faride Alidou wear the Hamburg kit.

Which players shape the clash?

Four ex‑Kiel men now play for St. Pauli: Sebastian Schonlau, Faride Alidou, Jonas Meffert (who featured for the Störche last season) and Marcel Rapp, now on the Hamburg bench. Kiel relies on Walter and captain Jonas Meffert to use their experience against the relegated Hamburg side.

Why does the match matter for the table?

Holstein Kiel currently sits 12th in the 2. Bundesliga with 41 points from 34 games and a recent form of LLWWW – five straight defeats. With 44 goals scored and 48 conceded (‑4 goal difference), the club trails league leaders FC Schalke 04 by 29 points. A win over St. Pauli could revive their relegation battle.

What does the lineup look like?

Coach Walter has chosen a 4‑3‑3: Niklas Dorsch (GK), Lars Krause, Mats Hansen, Jens Berg and Felix Müller in defence, Sebastian Schmidt, Jonas Meffert and Luca Weber in midfield, with Leon Kraus, Milan Fischer and Tobias Lenz forming the attack. St. Pauli lines up a compact 3‑5‑2 with Lars Eckert in goal and Mats Lindberg as the central midfield engine.

What does the result mean for the weeks ahead?

A point would at least lift Kiel off the very bottom, while a win could boost morale after the 2‑0 loss to Dynamo Dresden on May 17 (2‑1). Their next opponent is FC Stuttgart on August 21, a direct rival in the mid‑table. Both clubs need every point to secure a safe position.

Holstein Kiel therefore faces a crucial task: defend their home ground, stop former teammates and break the losing streak.