Newly-promoted Holstein Kiel are set to host Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich at Holstein-Stadion on Saturday in the Bundesliga's third matchweek.
The home side are currently third last in 16th place with no points and lost 2-0 against Wolfsburg on August 31, while Bayern have made a good start to the season and are second with six points.
Match preview
© Imago
Despite losing, the hosts were very competitive in their loss against Wolfsburg and were unfortunate to have not scored from any of their 13 shots.
However, boss Marcel Rapp was critical of his team's defending, and said that his side needed to "learn" from their defeat after they conceded twice from set pieces.
Holstein Kiel lost 3-2 against Hoffenheim in their opening game of the Bundesliga season on August 24, a match in which they created several opportunities but also conceded numerous chances themselves.
Rapp's team have lost three, drawn one and won three of their last seven competitive games, though they have yet to earn any points in their first ever Bundesliga season.
Holstein Kiel have also failed to win any of their last three competitive home matches, losing twice and drawing once.
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The visitors come into the clash having done well this season in terms of results, but Kompany will have concerns about his side's performance from both a defensive and offensive perspective.
Bayern beat Freiburg 2-0 last time out on September 1, but the Bavarians created few chances of real quality throughout the match, and only took the lead in the 38th minute thanks to Harry Kane's penalty.
In their first Bundesliga game against Wolfsburg on August 25, Kompany's team emerged as 3-2 victors, but they were trailing 2-1 from the 55th minute until the score was levelled by a Wolfsburg own goal in the 65th minute.
Kompany praised his players' mentality after their win against Wolfsburg while seemingly brushing off criticism of his side's performance, arguing that there was little need to be overly critical because "mistakes happen".
Bayern have won six of their last eight Bundesliga matches, though they have conceded 11 goals in that time.
It is worth mentioning that the Bavarians' away form is poor given they have lost five, drawn one and won just three of their last nine top-flight games.
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Team News
The hosts will be without defender Colin Noah Kleine-Bekel due to a knee injury, while forward Steven Skrzybsk is a doubt because of a calf issue.
Holstein Kiel could name a back three of Carl Johansson, Patrick Erras and Marco Komenda in front of goalkeeper Timon Weiner.
Meanwhile, the visitors have a number of injury absentees, including defenders Tarek Buchmann and Hiroki Ito, as well as goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
Defender Josip Stanisic will also miss out, while forwards Leroy Sane and Arijon Ibrahimovic are doubts.
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Johansson, Erras, Komenda; Becker, Remberg, Holtby, Knudsen, Puchacz; Machino, Bernhardsen
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Kim, Upamecano, Guerreiro; Pavlovic, Palhinha; Olise, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
We say: Holstein Kiel 1-5 Bayern Munich
While Holstein Kiel were competitive in their loss against Wolfsburg, they still conceded several chances themselves.
It would not be surprising if Bayern's superior attacking quality punished mistakes in their hosts' backline, and the Bavarians should be seen as strong favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
![Xabi Alonso gestures during Bayer Leverkusen's match against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 23, 2024 [on August 26, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "Xabi Alonso gestures during Bayer Leverkusen's match against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 23, 2024 [on August 26, 2024]")
