MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 09:56:35| >> :120:7299:7299:
[monks data]
Leverkusen logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 6
Oct 5, 2024 at 2.30pm UK
BayArena

B. Leverkusen
2 - 2
Holstein Kiel

Boniface (4'), Hofmann (8')
Frimpong (68'), Tah (90+6')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Geschwill (45+5'), Arp (69' pen.)
Knudsen (60'), Weiner (90+2')

Preview: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Holstein Kiel - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Holstein Kiel, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Champions Bayer Leverkusen will continue their title defence on Saturday when they host strugglers Holstein Kiel at BayArena in their sixth game of the Bundesliga season.

Leverkusen are fourth with 10 points and played out a tense 1-1 draw with giants Bayern Munich last time out in the league on September 28, whereas the visitors lost 4-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 29 and are last in 18th place with one point.


Match preview

Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring during his side's match against Wolfsburg on September 22, 2024© Imago

Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen had just 31% possession against Bayern during their draw, produced less than 0.1 xG and created no big chances.

The hosts were unusually poor from an offensive perspective against the Bavarians, especially considering they had scored 12 goals in their prior three games.

Alonso praised the attitude of his players, noting that while they did not have control of the ball, they remained disciplined in spite of the intense pressure Vincent Kompany's Bayern applied.

Die Schwarzroten beat AC Milan 1-0 in their most recent match when they played the Italian heavyweights in their second Champions League game of the season, winning thanks to Victor Boniface's close-range finish in the 51st minute.

The win against AC Milan means that Alonso's side have prevailed in four of the five matches they have played since their 3-2 defeat against RB Leipzig on August 31, scoring 14 times and conceding on five occasions.

Leverkusen have won 23, drawn four and lost just one of their last 28 home fixtures, though they have only won three of their six most recent games at BayArena, drawing two and losing one.

Xabi Alonso reacts after Bayer Leverkusen's defeat against RB Leipzig on August 31, 2024© Imago

Newly-promoted Holstein Kiel are embarking on their first ever season in the Bundesliga, but given they have lost four of their five league games this term, it is fair to say they could soon find themselves in a relegation battle if their poor form continues.

The visitors lost 4-2 last time out against Eintracht Frankfurt, and they produced little from open play and faced eight big chances.

Holstein Kiel's only points of the season came when they drew 2-2 against VfL Bochum on September 21, and that match was the only league game in which they have taken the lead.

Boss Marcel Rapp's side have conceded 17 goals and scored seven times in the Bundesliga this term, the worst and joint fourth worst records in the division respectively.

Rapp's team have netted four times and conceded on five occasions in their two away games in the top flight, losing once and drawing once, but they did win their prior six competitive away fixtures on the road.

Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D

Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):


Holstein Kiel Bundesliga form:


Holstein Kiel form (all competitions):



Team News

Manager of Holstein Kiel Marcel Rapp shouting at his players during his side's game against Hoffenheim on August 24, 2024© Imago

Bayer Leverkusen do not have any injury concerns to contend with, and Alonso should be able to select from an XI from a healthy squad.

Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie have started five of Die Schwarzroten's last six games as centre-backs, and all three can be expected to appear once again.

Exequiel Palacios has only played just over 10 minutes of football in the Bundesliga this season due to injury, but he did feature as a substitute against AC Milan, and he may come into the starting XI in place of Aleix Garcia in midfield on Saturday in order to build his fitness levels.

All three starting forwards were substituted during the game against AC Milan, perhaps with an eye on the weekend's Bundesliga match, so expect Amine Adli, Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface to start.

As for the visitors, they will be without centre-back Colin Kleine-Bekel and attacking midfielder Andu Yobel Kelati until November.

Elsewhere, Holstein Kiel centre-backs Patrick Erras and Carl Johansson are not scheduled to return until the middle of the month.

The away team used three centre-backs last time out, and Marco Komenda could come in for Johansson in a back three alongside defenders Timo Becker and Max Geschwill.

Lewis Holtby, Magnus Knudsen and Armin Gigovic may form a midfield three behind strikers Benedikt Pichler and Shuto Machino.


Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Adli, Wirtz; Boniface

Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Becker, Komenda, Geschwill; Rosenboom, Holtby, Knudsen, Gigovic, Porath; Pichler, Machino


SM words green background

We say: Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 Holstein Kiel

Considering Holstein Kiel's poor form this season and their defensive frailty, it is difficult to see how they avoid defeat.

Bayer Leverkusen also boast an exceptional home record, and it would not be surprising if they managed to score multiple goals on Saturday.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


ID:554634:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect14267:
Written by
Lewis Nolan

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: B. Leverkusen vs Holstein Kiel

Bayer Leverkusen
86.3%
Draw
10.0%
Holstein Kiel
3.8%
80
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Atalanta BC's Teun Koopmeiners reacts in September 2023
Read Next:
Transfer news and rumours today: Koopmeiners to Juventus, Kossounou to Atalanta
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern13103041103133
2Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1383233181527
3Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen1375130201026
4RB Leipzig137332114724
5Wolfsburg136342922721
6Borussia DortmundDortmund136342420421
7Freiburg136341717021
8Stuttgart135532623320
9Mainz 05Mainz135442318519
10Werder Bremen135442024-419
11Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach135351918118
12Union BerlinUnion Berlin134451214-216
13Augsburg134451625-916
14Hoffenheim133461825-713
15St Pauli133281117-611
16Heidenheim133191728-1110
17Holstein Kiel1312101333-205
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum1302111034-242


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!