Fin Bartels took another short mental trip to the cup sensation against Bayern this week. In the here and now, the challenge is 1. FC Heidenheim. The Kiel team, and especially the 34-year-old, have a lot of things to straighten out here.
Gold-plated footprint on the DFB Cup “Walk of Fame “
Yesterday, Thursday, Fin Bartels joined the guild of Germany’s top footballers – on a par with Oliver Kahn, Günter Netzer or Robert Lewandowski. What happened? A jury of experts and fans voted the Kiel offensive player the “Cup Hero” of the past season. This was in recognition of his performance in the sensational home victory against FC Bayern (equaliser and decisive penalty) – as a reward, he received a gold-plated footprint which will be immortalised on the DFB Cup “Walk of Fame “ at the Olympic Stadium.
Victory against Dresden just at the right time
A nice memory for Bartels before he returns to Second Division action with KSV at 1. FC Heidenheim on Sunday. The Störche are approaching the next stage of the season with a broad chest. “The win against Dresden before the international break was enormously important, we had already taken the right path beforehand, the performances went up little by little, but of course you have to score at some point, otherwise you get completely caught up in the maelstrom,” Bartels said in an interview on the club’s own website.
Despite four games without a defeat in the second division (three of them 1:1), Kiel have not yet finally escaped the relegation maelstrom. After all, 16th place is only two points away and SV Sandhausen, who are in that position, have played one game less – this one, however, is at current league leaders FC St. Pauli next Wednesday.
The Kielers are still in the relegation maelstrom.
The task for Kiel on Sunday is Heidenheim. “It’s always very nasty to play there. They’ve been in the 2. Liga for years, have a consistently high level, are always in the top rather than the bottom of the table,” said Bartels, assessing the upcoming opponent as difficult to play against. What will be important for the technician? “Duels, readiness – but also playing the football we’ve shown recently. “
5:3 – Kiel’s last win in Heidenheim 2017
The statistics also show that the Sturgeons have struggled at Heidenheim recently. The last away victory dates back to 15 October 2017, more than four years ago. Back then, it was 5:3 for Kiel in a turbulent match, on Sunday Bartels would “be enough for a 1:0, then we would be more stable”.
Bartels’ bitter FCH record
Bartels himself hasn’t pulled any legs out against the Heidenheimers either so far. Neither a goal nor a win was granted to him against the FCH – the club from the Ostalb thus enjoys a (negative) unique selling point in Bartels’ second league record. “That has to change now “, says the 188-time second division player.