Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Holstein Kiel
Bundesliga this season
View moreOutcome Breakdown
| GP | P | GD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 29 | 63 | 29 | |
| 18 | 30 | 19 | -30 |
B04
HKI
Bayer Leverkusen keen for back-to-back victories after Milan victory.
Bayer Leverkusen hosts Bundesliga newcomers Holstein Kiel at the BayArena on Saturday, October 5, as Xabi Alonso's side looks to bounce back from a shaky start and defend their title against a struggling Kiel yet to taste victory this season.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
A single goal from Victor Boniface in the UEFA Champions League secured a 1-0 win for Bayer Leverkusen over AC Milan. Following the victory, an elated Alonso praised his squad, stating, ‘I think it’s great news that German football is competitive. It’s good news for us too to have achieved this result against Milan.’
After a hard-fought draw against Vincent Kompany’s Bayern in their last Bundesliga fixture, Leverkusen now looks forward to facing Bundesliga debutants Holstein Kiel. Despite collecting 10 points from their first five matches (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), Leverkusen's start to this season is considered the worst for a reigning Bundesliga champion in 12 years.
Xabi Alonso’s focus will undoubtedly be on shoring up his defense, as his side has conceded six goals in their last two home matches in the Bundesliga. This mirrors the total goals they allowed across their previous 12 home matches combined. Only 1. FC Köln in 1964/65 experienced a similar defensive setback as champions in their opening home fixtures.
Furthermore, with 10 goals conceded in their first five games, Leverkusen currently holds the weakest defense of any reigning champion since Wolfsburg in 2009/10, who allowed 11 goals. Victor Boniface is poised to spearhead Leverkusen's attack alongside the highly sought-after Florian Wirtz and Martin Terrier in a 3-4-3 formation.
Boniface has scored three goals and contributed one assist in his five Bundesliga appearances this season, holding a 29% contribution to Leverkusen’s 14-goal haul. He remains a crucial figure in their attacking lineup.
Holstein Kiel
Bottom-placed Bundesliga debutants Holstein Kiel continue to struggle with life in the top flight, having accumulated just one point from their first five matches [LLLDL]. It is the worst start for any debuting club in the Bundesliga, excluding the league's inaugural season in 1963/64.
The last debutant who failed to secure a win in their first five matches was FC Augsburg in 2011/12, before going on to find a maiden win in their ninth game. Most recently, Holstein Kiel suffered a bruising 4-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt despite a brace from Shuto Machino [30’ P., 50’].
Goals from Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush [25', 65'], Igor Matanovic [47'], and Tuta [74'] ensured Machino’s efforts counted for nothing. Now facing a monumental task against the defending champions, manager Marcel Rapp is expected to maintain a 4-4-2 formation, with Benedikt Pichler and Machino leading the line.
The squad will be without Bernhardsson, who is sidelined with a hip injury. Andu Kelati and Colin Kleine-Bekel are both unavailable for this fixture.
Team form
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Team Comparison
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