Relegation-threatened Holstein Kiel will be looking for their third league win when they host a struggling Borussia Dortmund outfit on Tuesday night.
Nuri Sahin is under immense pressure following a poor start to life at Borussia Dortmund, and his team will have to ensure they return from the Holstein-Stadion with a win over Holstein Keil if they want him around for longer.
The home team are 17th on the points table with just eight points in their 16 outings. Marcel Rapp’s men are six points off safely, and they will have to string together a good run of results if they want to have any hopes of surviving in the top flight.
The 5-1 win over FC Augsburg was a massive boost for them, but they ended up losing 3-2 to SC Freiburg last time out and will surely find it difficult against the away side. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are eighth on the table with just 25 points in their 16 outings. The Black and Yellows are five points behind RB Leipzig in fourth, and they surely have a lot of catching up to do.
Sahin is fighting to save his job and having lost to Bayer Leverkusen last time out, the game against Holstein Keil is a perfect opportunity for Borussia Dortmund to return to winning ways. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Holstein Kiel
The home team will be without the services of Marvin Schulz, Steven Skrzybski, Colin Kleine-Bekel, and Patrick Erras. Apart from the quartet, everyone should be available for selection for Marcel Rapp.
Holstein Kiel will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Timon Weiner will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Timo Becker, David Zec, and Marco Komenda.
Lasse Rosenboom and Finn Porath will feature in the wing-back role, and they will surely have a lot of defending to do. In the centre of the park, Nicolai Remberg will pair up with Armin Gigovic. Alexander Bernhardsson and Shuto Machino will be the two chief creators behind Phil Harres, who will lead the line for Holstein Kiel against Borussia Dortmund.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Weiner; Becker, Zec, Komenda; Rosenboom, Remberg, Gigovic, Porath; Bernhardsson, Machino; Harres
Borussia Dortmund
A flu outbreak which affected as many as 12 players forced Nuri Sahin to start without quite a few of his regulars last time out. Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Waldemar Anton are among those who were affected, and they might not yet be ready to be involved in this fixture. Niklas Sule remains sidelined with an injury, while Pascal Gross is suspended.
The visitors will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Gregor Kobel will be in goal. The back four could once again be made up of Yan Couto, Julian Ryerson, Yannick Luhrs and Marcel Sabitzer. Couto and Sabitzer will be the full-backs, while Ryerson and Luhrs will feature in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Felix Nmecha could form the double pivot with Julian Brandt. The duo will not only look to shield the backline but also control the tempo of the game. Maximilian Beier will take up the no. 10 role, while Karim Adeyemi and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens will feature out wide on the flanks. Serhou Guirassy should lead the line for Borussia Dortmund against Holstein Kiel.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Couto, Ryerson, Luhrs, Sabitzer; Nmecha, Brandt; Adeyemi, Beier, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
Key Stats
- This is all set to be the third meeting between the two teams, with Borussia Dortmund winning the first two.
- The team in black and yellow have avoided defeat in five out of their last six league games.
- Holstein Kiel have lost six out of their last seven league outings.
- Borussia Dortmund have a horror away record this season, managing just one win in seven outings.
- The home team have the worst defensive record in the division, having conceded 41 goals so far.
Player to Watch
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
The 20-year-old is already a key figure for Borussia Dortmund, and he has been one of their standout performers this season, with 10 goals and five assists in his 24 outings. Given the kind of form he has been in, Nuri Sahin will hope the English youth international guides his team to a win in this outing.
Prediction
Holstein Kiel 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Nuri Sahin’s Borussia Dortmund have been far from their best this season, but they still have enough quality in their ranks to take down a struggling Holstein Kiel outfit that is fighting for survival in the top flight. Having lost five out of their last six games, the home team will find it difficult to stand against Dortmund. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the visitors.
