2 Holstein Kiel vs 4 Eintracht Frankfurt
Holstein Kiel host Eintracht Frankfurt in weekend clash.
After salvaging their first point of the season thanks to a last-minute equalizer, Holstein Kiel aim to harness that momentum as they host the in-form Eintracht Frankfurt this Sunday at Holstein-Stadion.
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 still find themselves at the bottom of the Bundesliga standings after four games, having conceded a league-high 13 goals and securing just one point from four games (LLLD).
Their shaky start puts them in bad 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 of whom also had just one point after four games.
Holstein Kiel will be looking for a better outcome when they face Frankfurt, a side they have only met once before in a competitive match. That game came in the first round of the 1996/97 DFB-Pokal, where Dragoslav Stepanović’s Frankfurt side claimed a 4-2 win.
Marcel Rapp is expected to maintain the 3-4-3 formation, with Shuto Machino, fresh from his match-winning goal, leading the attack alongside Benedikt Pichler and Lewis Holtby. However, Kiel will face some challenges, with key players Steven Skrzybski doubtful and Colin Kleine-Bekel 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. Frankfurt led Viktoria Plzen 3-1 with less than 25 minutes left on the clock, only to concede late goals from Prince Adu and Václav Jamelka, 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, as they are coming off three consecutive league wins, their first such streak under Toppmöller.
With nine points from four games, this is Frankfurt’s best Bundesliga start in eight years, having also collected nine points under Niko Kovač in 2016/17. Their form against newly promoted teams has been excellent, 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.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.