The VfB finishes off the intense week with a 2–1 win against newly promoted Holstein Kiel, marking a return to winning ways in the Bundesliga after two draws and a loss. The final score is closer than the game itself suggested.
Apparently, VfB can’t do “boring” anymore. Sure, in Munich, the game was decided early on, but otherwise? Late goals in Wolfsburg, against Hoffenheim, and in the victory in Turin; wild final phases against Mainz and in the Supercup. And against Kiel? As they wrap up the busy week, VfB essentially controls the game against KSV, as El Bilal and Undav display the full extent of their skill, exposing the limits of what the newly promoted team could do defensively against this VfB squad. The visitors, who brought along a decent-sized traveling support, only managed their first shot on Alexander Nübel’s goal in the second half, which he saved confidently. Of course, more goals might have come had the tireless Jamie Leweling and his teammates not seen the ball slip away repeatedly in the box. Then again, between two Tuesday matches, no one expects them to light up the field on a Saturday afternoon when two sparklers will suffice.
The real drama began when referee Robert Hartmann started handing out yellow cards in the second half. Both Jeff Chabot and Fiete Arp received two each. Arp suffered a bit from Hartmann’s earlier leniency, as he initially settled things with warnings and then struggled to keep up with yellow cards toward the end. Chabot, however, played a bigger part in his own dismissal. The foul that led to his first yellow may have been necessary to keep his Kiel opponent from breaking into the box. But chewing out an opponent while already on a card isn’t exactly wise behavior for a defensive leader. Especially since Bundesliga protocol is clear: when a verbal altercation turns into a crowd of players gathering, the instigators are given yellow cards, regardless of the initial offense. Meanwhile, other actions, like grabbing Ermedin Demirovic by the neck, seem to go unpunished. Oh well.
No Loss of Focus
Kiel scored in the 22 minutes of their numerical advantage and then missed a header wide with equal players on the field, but nothing significant happened afterward as VfB stayed relatively well-organized, even down a man. Chabot’s physical presence was clearly missed on the goal itself, as he might have been able to prevent Harres’s header off the crossbar. The ball bounced forcefully to Armin Gigovic’s feet, giving him hardly any time to react. In the end, I’d categorize that goal as “frustrating but forgivable,” similar to Mittelstädt’s lapse during Hoffenheim’s opening goal. Kiel’s expected goals value of 0.68 on Understat.com speaks volumes, confirming that one goal was about all the visitors could hope for, though they were otherwise well-organized and resilient. VfB, as they did in Turin, won crucial midfield duels and recovered lost balls.
This victory was still essential for morale, proving that the team didn’t lose focus after the high of Tuesday’s game, and can handle a match against a newly promoted team professionally. That’s exactly the aim at this stage. Chabot’s absence on Friday against Leverkusen will sting and could impact that game, but the team is steadily gaining confidence and experience, and may be capable of tripping up last season’s two Europa League finalists. But first up is Kaiserslautern in the cup on Tuesday, fresh off their Saturday night win over Bundesliga 2 leaders Düsseldorf. On paper, the class difference is even greater here, but the Palatines are in good form, having just won two straight games against top teams, in contrast to the still winless Kiel. Nevertheless, this cup game should end in a straightforward win — perhaps with a little less drama for a change.
Pictue: © Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images