Holstein Kiel will hope to use their home crowd at Holstein-Stadion to spur them to victory against Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Sunday, as they continue their quest for survival.
The hosts have just five points from 10 games and are second last in 17th place, four points and two positions from automatic safety, while Karnevalsverein are 10th with 13 points after 10 matchweeks and beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on November 9.
Match preview
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The home team lost 2-1 against Werder Bremen on November 9, a match in which Holstein Kiel faced three big chances while only creating one of their own.
Manager Marcel Rapp chose to remain positive despite the fact his team conceded the winner against Werder Bremen in the 89th minute, saying: "I'm satisfied with the second half, of course not with the goal we conceded, we have to clarify that better."
The Storks have managed to prevent their opponents from scoring fewer than two goals in just one of their 12 matches this term, and their record of 25 Bundesliga goals conceded is the second-worst tally in the top flight.
Rapp's side emerged as 1-0 victors against Heidenheim on November 2, but that was their only win in their 11 most recent outings, with the club losing four of their past five games.
Holstein Kiel have also been defeated in four of their five home fixtures this season, conceding on 14 occasions and netting just four times.
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As for the visitors, they were deserving winners against Borussia Dortmund given they created six big chances in comparison to BVB's one, though they were aided by the fact Emre Can was sent off in the 27th minute.
Prior to their clash against Dortmund, Mainz had only created 15 big chances in nine league games, and their match against Nuri Sahin's side was just the second time in their last five games that they had managed to score at all.
Karnevalsverein head coach Bo Henriksen will be pleased with the result given it took his team five points clear of 16th-placed St Pauli, who occupy the division's relegation playoff spot, and perhaps the boss can look forward to challenging higher up the table considering the club are only three points from the Conference League qualification spot in sixth place.
Henriksen will hope their triumph over Dortmund can mark the beginning of a sustained period of strong results, with the win being the team's first in their most recent five games.
Mainz' form on the road has been excellent this campaign, and the club are unbeaten in their five away matches, winning three and drawing two.
Team News
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Holstein Kiel will be unable to start midfielder Magnus Knudsen as a result of accumulating too many yellow cards, while centre-backs Carl Johansson and Colin Kleine-Bekel are absent due to injuries.
Rapp could field a back three of Marko Ivezic, Patrick Erras and Max Geschwill behind a midfield trio of Lewis Holtby, Nicolai Remberg and Armin Gigovic.
Attacking midfielder Andu Yobel Kelati has been ruled out until early December, as has striker Benedikt Pichler, so expect Steven Skrzybski and Phil Harres to feature in a front two.
Meanwhile, Mainz have a relatively healthy squad barring backup striker Nelson Weiper, who is not scheduled to return until early next month due to a muscle injury.
Paul Nebel scored against Dortmund, and he is likely to appear in the forward line alongside Lee Jae-sung and Jonathan Burkardt.
Henriksen may deploy a double pivot of Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri in front of centre-backs Dominik Kohr, Moritz Jenz and Maxim Leitsch.
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Ivezic, Erras, Geschwill; Becker, Holtby, Remberg, Gigovic, Puchacz; Skrzybski, Harres
Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Kohr, Jenz, Leitsch; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Lee; Burkardt
We say: Holstein Kiel 1-2 Mainz 05
Given Holstein Kiel's poor defensive displays this season, they could concede at least twice once again on Sunday.
Additionally, Mainz have been strong away from home in 2024-25, and they should be considered favourites.
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Lewis Nolan
