Holstein Kiel vs Heidenheim Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 German Bundesliga

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With 17th-placed Holstein Kiel currently six points off safety ahead of this latest round of fixtures, the visit of mid-table Heidenheim becomes even more important from their perspective.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday November 2nd 2024 – UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 10:30am / US PT – 7:30am

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: BACKLINE CONTINUES TO LEAK GOALS

Not a game has yet to pass this season in all competitions where Holstein Kiel haven’t conceded a minimum of two goals. In the Bundesliga, it’s now 23 goals that they have shipped overall across eight matches, the worst in the German top flight. You can see why they are starting to find themselves marooned inside the bottom three.

Their most recent league fixture ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat away at Stuttgart but despite a decent performance, Holstein Kiel couldn’t build on that, going down 3-0 to Koln in their DFB-Pokal clash in midweek.

HEIDENHEIM PREVIEW: BOUNCE-BACK REQUIRED AFTER UNTIMELY CUP EXIT

Like Holstein Kiel, Heidenheim were also eliminated from DFB-Pokal contention this week, having been knocked out at the hands of 2. Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin. Whilst Frank Schmidt did field a changed starting XI with numerous first-choice players left on the bench, that doesn’t account for a poor all-round showing.

In the Bundesliga, Heidenheim are midtable, but their brilliant start to the campaign feels a long time ago with them having taken just one point from the last nine available to them, losing to the likes of RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach.

HOLSTEIN KIEL TEAM NEWS: HOLTBY FIGHTING TO BE PASSED FIT

Jan-Fiete Arp’s suspension sees him join the likes of Bernhardsson, Kelati and Kleine-Beckel on the sidelines. But captain Lewis Holtby hasn’t been totally ruled out just yet and for him to just make the bench would be a big boost for the hosts.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Weiner; Ivezic, Erras, Geschwill; Becker, Knudsen, Gigovic, Porath; Machino; Skrzybski, Pichler

UNAVAILABLE: Arp (Suspended), Bernhardsson (Injured), Kelati (Injured), Kleine-Beckel (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Holtby (Injured)

HEIDENHEIM TEAM NEWS: KELLER AND NIEHUES BOTH ABSENT FOR VISITORS

Both Thomas Keller and Julian Niehues won’t be available for Heidenheim, with the former still not fit and the latter injured. However, midfielder Luka Janes could yet recover in time to play some part.

PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Maloney, Schoppner; Beck, Wanner, Scienza; Pieringer

UNAVAILABLE: Keller (Fitness), Niehues (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Janes (Injured)

HOLSTEIN KIEL VS HEIDENHEIM PREDICTION

Heidenheim have been fairly ruthless on their travels across the season so far against weaker opposition down the bottom end of the Bundesliga table. They already boast wins over the likes of St. Pauli and Mainz, which is testament to that. Expect them to capitalise on Holstein Kiel’s notorious defensive issues and maintain the streak of every team scoring twice against Kiel this campaign, which should be enough to force an eventual away win.

HOLSTEIN KIEL VS HEIDENHEIM TIP: HEIDENHEIM TO WIN