Holstein Kiel host Eintracht Frankfurt in weekend clash.

2024-09-24

Holstein Kiel will hope to capitalize on their first point of the season and defy their rocky Bundesliga debut as they host an in-form Eintracht Frankfurt, fresh off a Europa League setback, this Sunday.

Holstein Kiel

Bundesliga debutants Kiel managed to salvage a point last weekend, thanks to a late equaliser from Japanese forward Shuto Machino in the 89th minute. Despite this, the Storks find themselves at the bottom of the Bundesliga standings after four games, having conceded a league-high 13 goals and securing just one point [LLLD].

Their shaky start places them in unwelcome company, as no Bundesliga debutant outside of the inaugural 1963/64 season has claimed fewer points in their first four matches. The last teams to do so were SSV Ulm in 1999/00 and FC Homburg in 1986/87, both managing just one point after four games.

Holstein Kiel will be eager for a better outcome when they face Frankfurt, a side they have met only once before in a competitive match. That encounter occurred in the first round of the 1996/97 DFB-Pokal, where Dragoslav Stepanović’s Frankfurt triumphed with a 4-2 victory.

Marcel Rapp is expected to maintain the 3-4-3 formation, with Shuto Machino, fresh from his crucial goal, leading the attack alongside Benedikt Pichler and Lewis Holtby. However, Kiel will contend with some challenges, as key players Steven Skrzybski is doubtful, and Colin Kleine-Bekel is sidelined due to injuries.

Eintracht Frankfurt

On the other hand, Eintracht Frankfurt will be looking to bounce back from a frustrating midweek result in the Europa League. They led Viktoria Plzen 3-1 with less than 25 minutes left on the clock, only to concede late goals, resulting in a 3-3 draw.

After the match, manager Dino Toppmöller voiced his frustration: "We went 3-1 up and had a chance to make it 4-1, but again we didn’t take it." Despite the setback, Frankfurt’s Bundesliga form remains impressive.

The Eagles are coming off three consecutive league wins, marking their first such streak under Toppmöller. They last managed a run like this in December 2021, under Oliver Glasner.

With nine points from four games, this is Frankfurt’s best Bundesliga start in eight years, comparable to their performance under Niko Kovač in the 2016/17 season. Their form against newly promoted teams has been impressive, remaining unbeaten in their last 11 Bundesliga matches against such opponents.

Toppmöller is expected to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, with Hugo Ekitike partnering Omar Marmoush in attack. However, the Eagles will be without Oscar Höjlund and Mehdi Loune, while Robin Koch remains in doubt.