Hertha BSC vs Holstein Kiel - 2. Bundesliga

The 2. Bundesliga returns to the home ground on April 25, 2026, where Hertha BSC and Holstein Kiel will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. Chelsea take on Serie A giants Juventus in Hong Kong this morning in the latest fixture on their pre-season tour of Asia.

Both Hertha BSC and Holstein Kiel will be eager to build momentum when they meet in 2. Bundesliga. It has been a dominant campaign for the hosts, WWWWW over their last five and a win rate of 100% that few in the 2. Bundesliga can match. It has been a wretched run on the road for the visitors, LDLDD in their last five and a win rate of 0% that explains their lowly standing. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Hertha BSC average 3 per game to Holstein Kiel's 1.2, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. Newcastle had agreed a deal worth £49m for the Switzerland international, who was a breakout star at the World Cup as he scored three goals in their run to the quarter-finals.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Hertha BSC and Holstein Kiel have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. Andoni Iraola, like Luis Enrique, is a coach who demands that his players press high.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. That was more than any midfielder or attacker in the Barcelona squad.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 3-3 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. Harry Kane is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.