Holstein Kiel Punching Above Their Weight: Baring Their Fangs in the Relegation Dogfight
Steady instead of trepidation: Kiel adopts strategy for preventing demotion - Survival through Unity: Kiel Advocates Class Solidarity Over Fear
Coach Marcel Rapp of Holstein Kiel, the plucky underdogs in the Bundesliga, isn't feeling the pressure in the relegation scrap. "I ain't seein' we've got nothin' to lose. We're just gainin' somethin' here," Rapp mused ahead of their last home face-off against SC Freiburg this Saturday (15:30 CET/Sky). "If we end up in the drop, it'd be a bummer for us, but it's just par for the course for many. It's a bloody miracle we're still in the hunt for the playoffs," he added.
With only two matches remaining in the season, Kiel lags behind 1. FC Heidenheim by a scant one point for the 16th relegation playoff spot. The Schleswig-Holsteiners have been on a roll lately, grabbing victories against Gladbach and Augsburg.
"We've got ourselves a good streak goin'. Got a chance to make it up and stay afloat, somethin' no bodidy'd thought at the outset of the season," Rapp asserted. "The difference from most teams is, we're comin' into this with smiles, not shivers. I reckon that's an edge."
Rapp's still got one problem on his hands – injured forward Shuto Machino. The Japanese bloke managed some solo training sessions during the week and should be fit and ready to rumble in time for the game against the Champions League contender.
The odds are stacked against Kiel, who are currently anchored at the bottom of the table with 17 points, tied with Bochum and trailing the playoff spot (16th place) by about 3 to 4 points, which is held by Heidenheim (16th) and Bochum (17th) respectively. But, the Schleswig-Holsteiners are showing some late-season swagger, having closed the gap to within one point of the playoff spot after two straight wins, including a draw against RB Leipzig[3][4].
To secure their spot in the Bundesliga, Kiel must take points against Freiburg in their next fixture to keep alive their playoff survival hopes. They depend not only on their own results but also on Heidenheim's failure to win at Union Berlin to avoid automatic relegation[1][3][4]. The battle is tight, and Kiel's survival chances are realistic but precarious, heavily relying on the outcomes of their remaining fixtures and those of their closest rivals[1].
[1] https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga-standings[2] https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/bundesliga-20242025-table-standings-results/[3] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57393419[4] https://www. goal.com/en-us/news/bundesliga-holstein-kiel-climb-out-of-the-drop-zone/blt9faf7fdf5cfd191a
- Holstein Kiel's coach, Marcel Rapp, remains unfazed by the relegation struggle, stating, "I ain't seein' we've got nothin' to lose. We're just gainin' somethin' here."
- With only two matches left in the season, Holstein Kiel trails 1. FC Heidenheim by a single point for the 16th relegation playoff spot, having recently beaten both Gladbach and Augsburg.
- Rapp is optimistic about their chances, stating, "We've got ourselves a good streak goin'. Got a chance to make it up and stay afloat, somethin' no body'd thought at the outset of the season."
- Despite their precarious position at the bottom of the table, tied with Bochum with 17 points, and trailing the playoff spot by about 3 to 4 points, Holstein Kiel's survival chances are realistic but slim, heavily relying on the outcomes of their remaining fixtures and those of their closest rivals.
