Holstein Kiel – Bayer Leverkusen
Our Kiel – Leverkusen betting tip is: Double chance: Kiel and Leverkusen both score – 2.00 odds
- Kiel has scored in the last nine games in a row, scoring 21 goals
- Kiel has not won in five games
- Leverkusen is still undefeated on the road
The relegation battle meets the team of the hour: Holstein Kiel will host the second-placed team Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten on the road, on Saturday. The Kielers, who only last weekend suffered a 1-3 defeat in Frankfurt, are in crisis at the bottom of the table. Only one point separates them from VfL Bochum in 17th place – but their form is steeply declining.
The Werkself under Xabi Alonso are in stark contrast: the 0-0 Bundesliga tie with Bayern Munich once again highlighted Leverkusen’s defensive stability. Despite clear superiority and numerous chances – Frimpong and Tella only hit the aluminum – they missed the victory and are still eight points behind Bayern.
Interesting: The North Germans have always scored in their last five games, but have also conceded at least one goal in each game. One may wonder whether this defensive weakness will not prove fatal against one of the most goal-scoring teams in the league. You can find out who will win this duel in our Kiel – Leverkusen betting tip.
Kiel – Leverkusen info
- Venue: Holstein Stadium, Kiel
- Date and time: 22/02/2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga, match day 23
- TV-Übertragung: SKY
Kiel Form & Record Check
Holstein Kiel are currently going through an extremely critical phase in the Bundesliga. Marcel Rapp’s team have not won in five games and, following their most recent 3-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt, have slipped to last place in the table. Particularly worrying is the defensive instability – in all five games, the team conceded at least two goals.
Kiel have a flair for scoring goals
Interestingly, Kiel have been able to create chances despite their negative streak. They have scored at least one goal in each of the last five games, such as in the wild 3-4 loss to Bayern Munich or the two 2-2 draws against Wolfsburg and Bochum. However, this goal threat is not enough to compensate for the glaring defensive problems.
The relegation battle is coming to a dramatic head for the north Germans. With only one point behind VfL Bochum, the connection to the safe shore would still be within reach, but the current form curve gives little reason for hope. One can wonder whether coach Rapp is still finding the right solutions – the coming weeks will be decisive.
Kiel Facts & Analysis
- 18. Table position
- Five games without a win
- Scored in last nine games
Holstein Kiel are likely to field their usual 3-1-4-2 system. Coach Marcel Rapp will presumably rely on proven forces, with Dähne between the posts and the back three consisting of Nekić, Zec and Komenda. Porath could take up a defensive position in midfield, while Holtby and Remberg should liven up the center. Becker and Gigović are likely to play on the flanks. In the forward line, the duo Harres and Arp are likely to start. It will be interesting to see whether this expected line-up is confirmed – especially in the offensive area, Rapp would have alternatives on the bench with Skrzybski and Pichler.
Leverkusen Form & Record Check
Bayer Leverkusen continues to perform well. The 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich last weekend may have been goalless, but the Werkself dominated large stretches of the game against the record champions. Florian Wirtz, in particular, once again showed his extraordinary class, confirming the assessment of many experts that he is currently one of the most in-form players in the league.
Leverkusen is in strong form
Xabi Alonso’s team has not been beaten in the league for weeks and has recorded three wins and two draws in its last five games. It is worth noting that the team has hardly conceded any goals during this period and also proved its comeback qualities in the DFB Cup against Cologne (3-2 a.e.t.). The commanding 2-0 victory against Sparta Prague in the Champions League rounded off the strong performances.
With an eight-point gap to Bayern Munich, Leverkusen still has a chance of winning the league, but this is becoming increasingly unlikely. Interestingly, the team shows its strength especially in the second half – in the last few games, there has not been a single defeat after the break. The combination of defensive stability and offensive power makes the Werkself currently probably the most complete team in the league.
Leverkusen facts & analysis
- 2nd place in the table
- Unbeaten away from home in the league
- Last two league defeats in a row
Bayer Leverkusen is likely to stick to its proven 3-4-2-1 formation in the upcoming game as well. After the convincing, albeit goalless, performance against Bayern Munich, it can be assumed that Xabi Alonso will largely trust his successful team. The duo of Xhaka and Palacios is expected to play in midfield again. In offense, the combination of Terrier, Schick and Wirtz could provide the necessary punch.
The defense around Tah and Tapsoba, who showed a strong performance against Bayern, should also remain unchanged. It will be interesting to see whether the dominance shown continues in the next game – in any case, everything seems to remain the same in terms of personnel.
Kiel – Leverkusen head to head & statistics
The only previous meeting between Holstein Kiel and Bayer Leverkusen in the recent past ended in a spectacular 2-2 draw in October 2024. Interestingly, that clash featured two completely different halves, Leverkusen dominated the first half, while Kiel was much stronger after the break.
The distribution of goals was particularly remarkable – all four goals were scored in the first half. The second half then remained surprisingly goalless, although both teams continued to play forward. Of course, it’s hard to deduce a pattern from this one game, but the offensive alignment of both teams was clearly visible.
It will be interesting to see if the next meeting will be another goal-filled game. At least the first meeting showed that Kiel is quite capable of standing up to the favorites from Leverkusen.
