Bayer Leverkusen vs Holstein Kiel Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 German Bundesliga
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Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen are currently three points adrift of top spot and need to pick up a victory here against a struggling Holstein Kiel.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday October 5th 2024 – UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 9:30am / US PT – 6:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
BAYER LEVERKUSEN PREVIEW: CONSECUTIVE DEFEATS BUILD PRESSURE ON GLADBACH
Bayer Leverkusen rode a large wave of Bayern Munich pressure last weekend but ultimately came through it to draw 1-1 at the Allianz Arena. That result keeps them just three points behind the Rekordmeister after five goals and still inside the top four on goal difference heading into this final game before the international break.
In midweek, Leverkusen were back in Champions League action and maintained their 100% record in the league phase, edging past AC Milan by a goal to nil. The clean sheet will likely have done wonders for the confidence of Leverkusen’s backline, who have struggled to keep goals out domestically.
HOLSTEIN KIEL PREVIEW: ROCK BOTTOM VISITORS STILL WITHOUT A WIN
Holstein Kiel are one of just two teams in the Bundesliga still yet to secure a victory after five rounds of fixtures. So far, they’ve gained just a point and with a poor goal difference, the visitors are sat at the bottom of the table behind Bochum, having conceded a whopping 17 goals already this season in the league.
Such defensive fragilities do not bode well for them here against a side of Bayer Leverkusen’s class and they’ll need to put in their best performance of the campaign by a large margin in order to get anything out of this one.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN TEAM NEWS: ROTATION ON THE CARDS FOLLOWING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Xabi Alonso could give the likes of Patrik Schick, Amine Adli, Nathan Tella and Nordi Mukiele starts here as he potentially opts to shuffle his pack with the volume of games played. Jeremie Frimpong, Robert Andrich, Victor Boniface and Piero Hincapie are the players possibly in line for a rest.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Tapsoba; Tella, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Adli, Schick, Wirtz
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
HOLSTEIN KIEL TEAM NEWS: CONCUSSION RULES OUT JOHANSSON
Centre-back Carl Johansson is questionable due to the concussion protocol, whilst Kelati misses out with Holstein Kiel expected to go with three central defenders and wing-backs.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Weiner; Becker, Erras, Geschwill; Rosenboom, Holtby, Knudsen, Remberg, Porath; Pichler, Machino
UNAVAILABLE: Kleine-Beckel (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Johansson (Injured), Kelati (Injured)
BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS HOLSTEIN KIEL PREDICTION
Expect long spells of domination here by Bayer Leverkusen who are a far superior side on paper and even with players being given a rest, should wind up far too strong for Holstein Kiel. The hosts will generate plenty of chances across the 90 minutes and any outcome other than victory for them by at least two clear goals would be a significant surprise.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS HOLSTEIN KIEL TIP: BAYER LEVERKUSEN TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
