High-flying Storks await Rothosen in Kiel

Focus on the hosts

The Storks returned to the 2. Bundesliga for the first time since 1981 in the 2017/18 season, under current Darmstadt manager Markus Anfang, almost achieving back-to-back promotions, only being denied by Wolfsburg in the relegation play-off. Kiel have been able to establish themselves in the division in the two seasons since, handing the reins to 32-year-old Ole Werner last September, a man who has been part of the Kiel set-up since 2013 and is one of the rising stars of the German management circuit. Momentum slipped away at the end of last season, ending up in 11th place on 43 points, but Werner and his charges have certainly made up for it, starting the new campaign with three wins, two draws and one loss to sit in third place in the table heading into Monday night’s clash.

Only van Drongelen missing as Thioune can again call on key players

After a hectic schedule at the end of October, Daniel Thioune for one will have been glad for the ten-day break between the 2-2 derby draw and Monday’s game in Kiel, giving him and his players time to collect themselves and go again for the last game before the international break. This is also true for a number of members of the squad who were returning from injuries, and the break in intensity will have served them well too. As such only Bakery Jatta (adductor tear) and Rick van Drongelen (torn ACL) had individual sessions with rehab coach Sebastian Capel this week, and Jatta has recovered in time to take part on Monday, giving the coaching staff some selection headaches to deal with. Thioune said at Sunday's pre-match press conference, "a real pat on the back for the medical department, as only Rick [van Drongelen] is missing for tomorrow. It will be difficult to choose a squad." The Rothosen’s winning run came to an end last time out against St. Pauli, but still sit in first position on 16 points from a possible 18, and will be hoping to add to their tally before a well-deserved two-week rest.

Thioune on how his team approach the game: "We have a lot of options in our squad, we want to be as unpredictable as possible. When an opponent has found a way to combat our playing style, it's our job to find a solution to that and adapt."