Hertha BSC held to 0-0 in Kiel as striker worries grow

Reporting from the 2. Bundesliga match on 18 October 2026, Berliner Zeitung describes Hertha BSC's 0-0 draw at Holstein Kiel. Hertha, who lead the table, created several chances but Sebastian Grönning and Luca Schuler each missed clear opportunities; Grönning has not scored since matchday two and Schuler is still waiting for his first goal of the season. The biggest headache for coach Stefan Leitl is new signing Gustaf Nilsson. The Swedish striker did not travel to Kiel because of recurring left thigh problems. After a short comeback following his debut against Dresden, Nilsson suffered another muscular setback during Monday's training. Leitl insists Nilsson is 'exactly the player we wanted', but the club is focused on getting him fit rather than planning his return to the starting eleven. Hertha remain first in the table despite the result.