Under pressure boss Nuri Sahin needs his Borussia Dortmund side to beat Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga on Tuesday when they travel to Holstein-Stadion.
The home team are second last in 17th place with eight points from 16 matches and occupy one of two automatic relegation spots, while BVB are eighth with 25 points and were beaten 3-2 by champions Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
Match preview
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Holstein Kiel succumbed to a 3-2 defeat on Saturday at the hands of Freiburg, who were leading 3-0 before conceding in the 85th and 90th minutes.
Boss Marcel Rapp might feel his team should have done considerably better defensively considering his side did not face a big chance and only faced an xG total of 0.63.
In fact, the Storks have conceded 41 goals in the Bundesliga – the worst record in the division - despite only facing 28.6 xG, which is admittedly the second most of any team in the top flight.
Rapp's side are five points from 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the league's only relegation playoff spot, and have been defeated in six of their last seven games, though they did win 5-1 against Augsburg in the game prior to their defeat on Saturday.
The hosts have triumphed in two of their four most recent fixtures at Holstein-Stadion, but it should be noted that only St Pauli and VfL Bochum have picked up fewer than their six points at home.
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As for Dortmund, their defensive performance against Leverkusen was a cause for concern given they conceded twice in the first eight minutes and three times before the 20th minute.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Sahin claimed that the result could have been different had he been able to name a more experienced XI, saying: "It was extremely bitter how we conceded the goals. It was far too easy, even in this constellation, in which we will probably never play again. Nevertheless, that must not happen.
"I am not looking for alibis, but I firmly believe that with the experienced players or with the guys playing their usual positions, we would have defended differently."
The Black and Yellows' defensive record is alarming considering they have only kept three clean sheets in 16 league matches, and their record of 25 goals conceded is the joint second worst return in the Bundesliga's top eight.
It should also concern Sahin that his side have only scored 30 league goals so far, and his team are on track to score their fewest goals in the top flight since the 2014-15 season.
BVB have struggled to achieve victories in recent weeks, with the club drawing three, losing two and winning just one game in their six most recent outings.
While the visitors are unbeaten in their last three away games – winning two and drawing one – they were beaten in their prior six fixtures on the road.
Team News
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Holstein Kiel centre-back Colin Kleine-Bekel is scheduled to make his return from a cruciate ligament injury in late January, while fellow defender Patrick Erras could make a comeback from injury around the same time.
Timo Becker, David Zec and Marco Komenda played the entire match against Freiburg in central defence, and the trio are likely to start on Tuesday.
Midfielder Marvin Schulz and striker Steven Skrzybski are set to miss out on action for a few more days, so perhaps Nicolai Remberg and Armin Gigovic will partner each other in the middle of the pitch behind forwards Alexander Bernhardsson, Shuto Machino and Phil Harres.
Meanwhile, Dortmund will be without suspended midfielder Pascal Gross, as well as injured centre-back Niklas Sule.
Sahin was forced to start a makeshift backline and midfield against Leverkusen due to an outbreak of flu, with the boss claiming 12 team members were affected by illness.
Regulars Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton were also described as being in bad shape, and if they are not ready for Tuesday, Dortmund may have to start a back four consisting of Yan Couto, Julian Ryerson, Yannick Luhrs and Marcel Sabitzer.
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Becker, Zec, Komenda; Rosenboom, Remberg, Gigovic, Porath; Bernhardsson, Machino; Harres
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Couto, Ryerson, Luhrs, Sabitzer; Nmecha, Brandt; Adeyemi, Beier, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
We say: Holstein Kiel 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
If Dortmund come into the clash with several first-team starters missing due to illness, Holstein Kiel could have an opportunity to boost their survival chances.
However, Sahin's side still managed to score twice against the champions, and their attacking firepower could help them escape Holstein-Stadion with three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
