Red for Rapp and debut defeat: Kiel 0-2 against Wolfsburg

Despite the bitter defeat, Marcel Rapp thanked his Wolfsburg coaching rival Ralph Hasenhüttl after the historic home debut in the Bundesliga. The Holstein Kiel coach was shown the red card in the heated final phase of the 0:2 (0:2) defeat against VfL Wolfsburg. Hasenhüttl could understand Rapp’s incomprehension about the sending off (90th minute+7). The Kiel coach had penetrated the opponent’s coaching zone.

“I didn’t know the rule either,” said Hasenhüttl. He said he had often run through the opponent’s zone without consequences and received a “Thanks, Ralph” from Rapp. Wolfsburg’s goalkeeping coach Pascal Formann was also shown a red card in the situation.

According to Rapp, substitute Jann-Fiete Arp wanted to get the ball near the visitors’ bench and got into a fight with Wolfsburg players. “I ran over there, said: ‘Give me the ball’ and then the referee came and gave me a red card,” said the Holstein coach. “He explained to me after the game that the coach was not allowed in the private coaching zone.” I didn’t know that until then either.”

The deserved defeat of Kiel against clever Wolfsburg was pushed into the background. VfL spoiled the special game, because since the founding of the Bundesliga no first division match had ever taken place in Schleswig-Holstein. After two match days, the North German newcomers remain without a point.

The Bundesliga-experienced guests appear to be more cold-blooded than the first division newcomers. After a brave start, Kiel’s Maximilian Arnold (27th minute) and Sebastiaan Bornauw (30th minute) put a damper on the festive spirit of the enthusiastic fans with their goals from set pieces. The Holstein Stadium was sold out with 15,034 spectators.

“We have to defend set pieces better,” criticized Rapp. “We have to learn,” he added. His opponent Hasenhüttl, on the other hand, praised his team for getting into the opponent’s half “with simple means.” “We are very satisfied,” said the Austrian.

Holstein had been working on and in the stadium during the week. The club had to meet DFL licensing requirements – including new cameras and improved floodlights. The renovation of the arena is planned for autumn 2025.

Even without a new arena, fans were looking forward to the first Bundesliga home game. Blue jerseys dominated the city. Holstein coach Rapp spoke of a “historic game” before the Bundesliga home premiere. Wolfsburg coach Hasenhüttl was also warned when he mentioned the “special atmosphere” surrounding the “historic encounter”. But: The Lower Saxons wanted to end the blue-white-red party generously.

The northern club did not allow that to happen at first and started the party with a bang. Shuto Machino (12th) had the first good opportunity when he was in a good shooting position on the edge of the penalty area, but he did not hit the ball properly. Wolfsburg were lacking ideas at that point and long balls often missed their target.

But the guests got better – and destroyed the initial euphoria. First, Patrick Wimmer failed with his central shot on goalkeeper Timon Weiner from a free position in front of the Kiel goal. Captain Arnold did better shortly afterwards with a free kick from around 25 meters, which was deflected into the Kiel goal. Central defender Bornauw increased the lead a little later with a header – again from a set piece.

Shortly before half-time, the Lower Saxony team suffered another setback: Croatian Lovro Majer had to leave the pitch injured after a foul. BVB loanee Salih Özcan came on for him. The Turkish international was on loan to Holstein between 2019 and 2020.

The second half remained intense with occasional scoring opportunities on both sides. But Kiel were not dangerous enough to come close to equalizing.