Bayer Leverkusen vs Holstein Kiel: Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen will continue their title defense by hosting Holstein Kiel at BayArena in their sixth game of the Bundesliga season.

Leverkusen is currently in fourth place with 10 points and played a tense 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich in their most recent league match on September 28. Meanwhile, the visitors suffered a 4-2 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on September 29 and are currently in 18th place with one point.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen controlled only 31% of the ball during their draw with Bayern, generating less than 0.1 xG and failing to generate any significant opportunities.

The hosts' offensive performance against the Bavarians was notably subpar, particularly in light of the fact that they had scored 12 goals in their previous three games.

Alonso commended his players' demeanor, observing that they maintained their composure despite the intense pressure exerted by Bayern, which Vincent Kompany led.

In their most recent match, Die Schwarzroten defeated AC Milan 1-0 in their second Champions League encounter of the season. Victor Boniface's close-range finish in the 51st minute was the difference in the victory.

In the five matches since their 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig on August 31, Alonso's team has won four and conceded five. They have scored 14 goals and conceded five. The victory over AC Milan is indicative of this.

In their most recent 28 home fixtures, Leverkusen have won 23, drawn four, and lost only one. However, they have only won three of their six most recent games at BayArena, drawing two and losing one.

Recently promoted Holstein Kiel are currently in their inaugural season in the Bundesliga. However, as they have lost four of their five league games this season, it is reasonable to assume that they may soon find themselves in a relegation battle if their current performance persists.

The most recent encounter between the visitors and Eintracht Frankfurt resulted in a 4-2 defeat. They achieved minimal success in open play and encountered eight significant opportunities.

The only league encounter in which Holstein Kiel has gained the lead is a 2-2 draw against VfL Bochum on September 21, which accounted for their sole points of the season.

The Bundesliga's worst and joint fourth-worst records this season are held by Marcel Rapp's team, which has conceded 17 goals and scored seven times.

In their two away games in the top division, Rapp's team scored four goals and conceded five times while also drawing once and losing once. However, they have won their previous six competitive away fixtures on the road.

Bayer Leverkusen x Holstein Kiel Team News

Injuries are not an issue for Bayer Leverkusen, and Alonso should be able to select from a robust squad.

Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie have each started five of Die Schwarzroten's most recent six games as center-backs, and it is reasonable to anticipate that they will do so once more.

Exequiel Palacios has only played just over 10 minutes of football in the Bundesliga this season due to injury. However, he did appear as a substitute against AC Milan and may be included in the starting lineup in place of Aleix Garcia in midfield on Saturday to enhance his fitness levels.

The three starting forwards were substituted during the match against AC Milan in anticipation of the upcoming Bundesliga match. Consequently, Amine Adli, Florian Wirtz, and Victor Boniface are expected to start.

The visitors will be without center-back Colin Kleine-Bekel and attacking midfielder Andu Yobel Kelati until November.

Meanwhile, Patrick Erras and Carl Johansson, the center backs for Holstein Kiel, are expected to return in the middle of the month.

Marco Komenda could replace Johansson in a back three that includes Timo Becker and Max Geschwill, as the visiting team employed three center-backs during their most recent match.

Benedikt Pichler and Shuto Machino may be supported by a midfield trio consisting of Magnus Knudsen, Armin Gigovic, and Lewis Holtby.

Our Predictions

Bayer Leverkusen to win and over 3.5 goals @ 1.55 on Sky247.ng

It is challenging to envision how Holstein Kiel will avoid defeat, given their defensive vulnerability and their subpar performance this season.

Bayer Leverkusen also maintains an exceptional home record, and it would be unsurprising if they were able to score multiple goals on Saturday.

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