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Both Holstein Kiel and Wolfsburg tasted defeat in the first round of Bundesliga fixtures, so each will be desperate to get their first points on the board here.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday August 31st 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+
HOLSTEIN KIEL PREVIEW: KIEL BEATEN ON BUNDESLIGA RETURN
Holstein Kiel played their part in a thrilling match against Hoffenheim to begin life back in the Bundesliga. But that will only serve as scant consolation to Marcel Rapp and his side as they ultimately lost out by three goals to two. A brilliant hat-trick from Andrej Kramaric proving the difference.
Scoring twice at least gives them a platform in which to build from, knowing that they can find the net but failing to keep them out at the other end will always lead to them playing catch-up and make it very tough to gain points.
WOLFSBURG PREVIEW: DESPITE LEADING AGAINST BAYERN, WOLFSBURG END UP WITH NOTHING
Wolfsburg came out of their first game feeling like they had blown a huge opportunity. Despite going behind against Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg came back strongly at home, flying out of the traps in the second half to equalise and then go in front five minutes before the hour mark, stunning the visitors.
However, Vincent Kompany’s side showed their class as the game went on, quickly equalising and then piling on the pressure in a bid to find that winning goal, which eventually came with eight minutes to go through Serge Gnabry.
HOLSTEIN KIEL TEAM NEWS: THREE PLAYERS UNAVAILABLE FOR HOSTS
Midfielder Andu Kelati misses out for Holstein Kiel through suspension, whilst both centre-back Colin Kleine-Bekel and striker Steven Skrzybski each won’t feature due to knee and calf injuries respectively.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Weiner; Becker, Erras, Ivezic; Porath, Knudsen, Holtby, Puchacz; Machino; Pichler, Bernhardsen
UNAVAILABLE: Kelati (Suspended), Kleine-Bekel (Injured), Skrzybski (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
WOLFSBURG TEAM NEWS: NO LACROIX FOLLOWING PALACE MOVE
Following Maxime Lacroix’s deadline day departure to Premier League side Crystal Palace, the visitors are likely to start Cedric Zesiger in central defence alongside Sebastiaan Bornauw, but they are expected to be without up to six players here.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Grabara; Fischer, Bornauw, Zesiger, Kaminski; Svanberg, Arnold; Wimmer, Majer, Tomas; Wind
UNAVAILABLE: Amoura (Injured), Angely (Fitness), Bialek (Injured), Maehle (Injured), Paredes (Injured), Rogerio (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Nmecha (Injured), Vranckx (Illness)
HOLSTEIN KIEL VS WOLFSBURG PREDICTION
Holstein Kiel will hope that home advantage can serve as the edge they need to take off here back in the top flight. Having said that, the worries over their backline and whether they can adapt to the quality facing them at this level certainly remain after falling victims to the Kramaric show at Hoffenheim.
Wolfsburg are a solid Bundesliga outfit and going forward they boast more than enough ability to grab at least one goal here. It will be hard for Holstein Kiel to match them and with that in mind, consider backing Wolfsburg to win via the draw no bet market for extra security.
HOLSTEIN KIEL VS WOLFSBURG TIP: WOLFSBURG DRAW NO BET