Desperate to climb further from the bottom, Holstein Kiel look to build on their recent victory as they host Stuttgart on Saturday in Bundesliga's round 25.
A hard-fought win at Union Berlin lifted the Storks off the foot of the table, but they remain in the relegation zone with 16 points, one behind the playoff spot and four adrift of safety.
Match preview
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Holstein approach this clash with renewed optimism, hoping their 1-0 triumph at Union serves as a launchpad for a resurgence in their battle against the drop.
Marcel Rapp's side were the more clinical despite their opponents registering 14 shots, four more than them, with both teams managing three on target, as Amin Gigovic's 42nd-minute strike proved decisive in snapping a six-match winless run that included two draws and four defeats.
Another positive takeaway for Holstein was their resilience at the back, a trait that has been absent for much of the season, as that victory marked the Storks's only clean sheet in 15 league outings.
KSV, experiencing their maiden Bundesliga campaign, will be eager to build on these improvements as they chase their first consecutive top-flight wins this Saturday.
The debutants will take confidence from their last home meeting with Stuttgart, a 3-2 victory in May 2020 when both sides were competing in the second tier.
However, KSV's performances at Holstein-Stadion this season offer little encouragement, having collected just 10 points from 12 Bundesliga home matches (W3, D1, L8) – a record surpassed in futility by only one top-flight newcomer since 1990, Greuther Furth in 2012-13 (four).
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Meanwhile, Stuttgart arrive aiming for a league double over Holstein after claiming a 2-1 win in October's reverse fixture, which was the first-ever Bundesliga meeting between the sides.
However, their recent form has been underwhelming, with no wins in their last three games, comprising one draw and two defeats.
Stuttgart's latest setback – a 3-1 loss to league leaders Bayern Munich last Friday – marked their eighth defeat of the campaign, already surpassing the seven they suffered across the entirety of 2023-24.
The Reds have struggled to match last season's exploits, having finished second with 73 points, with their latest slip seeing them drop to ninth with 36 points, two behind sixth-placed RB Leipzig, who occupy the final European spot.
Stuttgart's recent struggles stem from their inability to hold on to leads, having dropped points from winning positions in each of their last three matches, adding to a league-high eight in the second half of the season — already exceeding the five they let slip before the midway mark.
Despite these frailties, Sebastian Hoeness's side have enjoyed a solid run on their travels, winning three of their last five Bundesliga away games, and the visitors will look to draw inspiration from that record as they seek a return to winning ways this weekend.
Team News
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Holstein's win at Union came at a cost, with injuries to defender David Zec and goalkeeper Timon Weiner casting doubt on their availability for Saturday.
As a result, Thomas Dahne is expected to step in between the posts, while Marko Ivezic could feature in a three-man defence.
KSV's fitness concerns extend to Ivan Nekic, Finn Porath and John Tolkin, all still nursing muscle issues, while Carl Johansson remains sidelined with a knee problem, and Alexander Bernhardsson continues his recovery from a patellar tendon injury.
Meanwhile, Colin Kleine-Bekel is edging closer to a return from an ACL injury, while Patrick Erras is still dealing with a concussion that has troubled him for weeks.
Stuttgart, meanwhile, emerged from the Bayern game unscathed, with expected absentees limited to Dan-Axel Zagadou (knee), Luca Raimund (muscle) and Ameen Al Dakhil, though the centre-back is nearing a return from a thigh problem.
On a brighter note, El Bilal Toure has resumed training after a foot injury, but his availability hinges on passing a fitness test.
Meanwhile, Hoeness may stick with the same lineup, keeping Deniz Undav and Nick Woltemade together in a two-man attack.
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Dahne; Ivezic, Becker, Komenda; Rosenboom, Knudsen, Remberg, Gigovic, Geschwill; Harres, Machino
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Woltemade
We say: Holstein Kiel 1-3 Stuttgart
Despite Stuttgart's recent struggles, their solid away form suggests they have the edge in this encounter, especially if Holstein's last victory proves to be just a brief upturn.
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Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
