Borussia Dortmund – Holstein Kiel
Just one afternoon separates Dortmund from the Champions League, but first the fifth-placed team must defeat their already relegated but combative guests from Kiel. The Westphalians have collected 54 points, 19 of them in their last seven games, and only a clear victory will keep the Champions League window open. The fact that the first leg was lost 2-4 adds extra spice to the final. Coach Niko Kovac has to replace suspended playmaker Pascal Groß and the injured Maximilian Beier, but is counting on the in-form Marcel Sabitzer to set the pace. Kiel are already relegated with 77 goals conceded and second from bottom, but they travel with a new contract for coach Marcel Rapp, plenty of fan support and a defiant message that they will bow out of the Bundesliga with dignity.
Dortmund – Kiel info
- Venue: SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, Dortmund
- Date and time: May 17, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 34)
Dortmund form & record check
Borussia Dortmund are on a steep upward curve: five wins in a row, most recently 4-2 at Leverkusen. In four of these games, BVB scored before half-time and scored at least three goals in each game. The downside remains the defense, which has been breached at least once in four of the last five games. Kovac compensates for Groß’s suspension with Sabitzer alongside Can, continues to rely on the recently established back three and accepts the necessary amount of risk. A win by at least two goals would secure fourth place – the team looks ready for this feat.
Dortmund are likely to start in a 3-4-2-1 formation once again: Kobel, Süle, Anton, and Bensebaini form the defense, with Ryerson and Svensson on the wings. In the center, Sabitzer replaces the suspended Groß alongside Nmecha, with Brandt and Adeyemi starting in front of striker Guirassy. Schlotterbeck, Mané, and Campbell remain sidelined through injury. No major experiments are planned – everything revolves around integrating Sabitzer’s creative qualities as smoothly as possible.
Kiel Form & Record Check
Holstein Kiel bids farewell with mixed impressions: four defeats and a spectacular 4-3 win against Gladbach in their last five games. At least KSV scored in each of these games, often before the break. Defensively, however, they regularly conceded goals, especially after the break, and lost 80% of their second halves. Kleine-Bekel, Komenda and the suspended Gigovic are all missing, while other key players are on their way out. Nevertheless, Rapp wants to remain true to his offensive line – one last statement in front of thousands of traveling fans.
Kiel is expected to line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation: Dähne will be in goal, with Johansson, Zec, and the departing Becker in front of him. Porath and Tolkin will play on the wings, Skrzybski will take on the number 10 role, and Bernhardsson and Machino will start up front. The absences of Kleine-Bekel, Komenda, and Gigovic are forcing Rapp to make changes, but the basic framework remains the same. Substitutes such as Rosenboom and Knudsen could get some playing time in order to recommend themselves for the 2nd division.
H2H Dortmund – Kiel Head-to-head & statistics
Dortmund won two of the last three head-to-head matches, with Kiel winning the most recent encounter 4-2. More than 3.5 goals were scored in each game, and there has never been a draw. BVB has always scored at least twice, while Kiel has only failed to score once. History therefore suggests that the current encounter will also be high-scoring – anything else would be surprising from a statistical point of view.
