Holstein Kiel's Pokal Quarter-Final Warm-Up Goes Awry - Holstein Kiel's relegation fight intensifies after costly home defeat to Greuther Fürth
Holstein Kiel's recent progress in the 2. Bundesliga hit a setback after a 1-2 home defeat to Greuther Fürth. The loss ended a five-match unbeaten streak and tightened the race to avoid relegation. With 24 points from 19 games, Kiel now sits just five points clear of the drop zone.
The match on January 29, 2026, saw Kiel take an early blow when defender David Zec's mistake allowed Aaron Keller to open the scoring for Fürth. Despite Jonas Meffert pulling one back for the hosts, individual errors continued to haunt Kiel. A conceded penalty gave Noël Futkeu the chance to seal Fürth's victory with their second goal.
Kiel had shown signs of recovery since their relegation from the Bundesliga last season. Their recent form had lifted them to a safer position, even narrowing the gap from a potential 11 points to just five below the relegation zone. However, the defeat came at a critical time, just days before their DFB-Pokal quarterfinal clash against VfB Stuttgart.
The bottom of the table remains tightly packed, with Greuther Fürth (19 points), SG Dynamo Dresden (19 points), Fortuna Düsseldorf (20 points), Arminia Bielefeld (20 points), 1. FC Magdeburg (20 points), and SC Preußen Münster (20 points) all within striking distance of Kiel.
The loss leaves Kiel vulnerable as they prepare for a crucial cup tie. With relegation rivals closing in, their next matches will be vital in maintaining their position. Individual mistakes, like those against Fürth, could prove costly in the tight race for survival.
