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Bundesliga | Gameweek 29
Apr 12, 2025 at 2.30pm UK
Holstein-Stadion

Holstein Kiel
1 - 2
St Pauli

Bernhardsson (21')
Ivezic (60'), Harres (77'), Schulz (86')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Sinani (34'), Geschwill (90+2' og.)
Nemeth (37'), Afolayan (46'), Wahl (82'), Guilavogui (90+2')

Preview: Holstein Kiel vs. St Pauli - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between Holstein Kiel and St Pauli, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Holstein Kiel could move off the bottom of the Bundesliga table in Saturday's gameweek 29 clash against St Pauli at Holstein-Stadion.

The visitors, currently in 15th place, are four points clear of Heidenheim in the relegation playoff spot and come into this weekend looking to secure a fifth consecutive win over their hosts across all competitions.


Match preview

Holstein Kiel boss Marcel Rapp during his side's match against Bayern Munich, on February 1, 2025© Imago

Struggling Kiel have a chance to leapfrog VfL Bochum this weekend and possibly reduce the gap on 16th-placed Heidenheim, who sit in the relegation playoff position.

The Storks, in their maiden Bundesliga season, have had a mixed campaign, claiming four wins in 28 matches heading into this weekend.

While three of those victories have been in front of their supporters, Marcel Rapp's men have not secured a win at Holstein-Stadion since mid-January, when they defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-2, thus recording consecutive victories on home soil.

Since that success over BVB, however, Kiel's only win in 11 games has been a 1-0 triumph at Union Berlin in March, highlighting the bottom-placed club's struggles.

Further compounding their challenge to remain in the league is their lack of clean sheets this season, with the shutout against Berlin being the club's second successful defensive effort after November's 1-0 victory over Heidenheim.

Although the 18th-placed team have scored more goals than those in the bottom five — Hoffenheim (34), St Pauli (23), Heidenheim (32) and Bochum (28) — their total of 39 goals is undermined by the worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 68, nine more than second-worst Bochum (59).

Oladapo Afolayan celebrates scoring for St Pauli on April 6, 2025© Imago

Therefore, this weekend's opponents will look to exploit their hosts' defensive weaknesses, aiming to go consecutive games without losing and potentially secure a fifth straight win against Kiel.

While Alexander Blessin's men are eight points above the bottom team, the Kiezkicker are just four clear of 16th-placed Heidenheim and six points ahead of Bochum with six matches remaining, indicating that survival is far from guaranteed.

Nevertheless, the 15th-placed have been tough to beat in the last month, as evidenced by just one defeat in four matches — a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich — even if Blessin will hope his side can find ways to secure maximum points to ensure their top-flight status.

This season's trend of rarely finding the back of the net suggests that St Pauli, having scored the fewest goals (23) in the Bundesliga, are unlikely to engage in end-to-end, high-scoring games.

However, their total of 34 goals conceded far betters every team in the bottom half and many in the top half, with only Bayern (27) and Mainz 05 (32) allowing fewer this season.

Having already kept eight clean sheets, the sixth-best record in the top flight, a ninth could guarantee St Pauli the points as they seek a fifth consecutive victory over Kiel.

Holstein Kiel Bundesliga form:

St Pauli Bundesliga form:


Team News

Lewis Holtby (No. 10) in action for Holstein Kiel on September 14, 2024© Imago

While Lewis Holtby (thigh) will be evaluated before Saturday, Kiel will be without several players due to injury or suspension, including Patrick Erras (concussion), Andu Yobel Kelati (knee), Colin Kleine-Bekel (knee), Ivan Nekic (muscular), Benedikt Pichler (muscular) and David Zec (suspended).

Despite the broader struggles of the team, Phil Harres, Shuto Machino and Steven Skrzybski have scored eight, seven and six goals, respectively, showcasing the presence of multiple match-winners.

Blessin is unlikely to have Sascha Burchert (groin), Karol Mets (knee), James Sands (ankle) and Simon Zoller (muscular) available due to injury.

Although St Pauli's leading goalscorers may not match Kiel's, Morgan Guilavogui (five goals) and Johannes Eggestein (three) have netted crucial goals, emphasising the importance of their contributions.

Oladapo Afolayan also scored a late equaliser in the previous week's draw with Gladbach, bringing him to three goals this season, and the forward could be an option off the bench for the away side.


Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Dahne; Becker, Ivezic, Komenda; Rosenboom, Gigovic, Remberg, Tolkin; Skrzybski; Bernhardsson, Machino

St Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Nemeth, Wahl, Van der Heyden; Saliakas, Irvine, Smith, Treu; Sinani; Weisshaupt, Guilavogui


SM words green background

We say: Holstein Kiel 1-1 St Pauli

Although Blessin's St Pauli side have rarely conceded this season, their lack of attacking output means success is not guaranteed.

Consequently, both teams could share the spoils on Sunday, ending Kiel's losing streak in this fixture.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Anthony Brown

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Game History

How you voted: Holstein Kiel vs St Pauli

Holstein Kiel
28.1%
Draw
37.5%
St Pauli
34.4%
32
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern31236290296175
2Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen311910266353167
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt31167862422055
4Freiburg31156104447-351
5RB Leipzig31131084842649
6Borussia DortmundDortmund311461160491148
7Mainz 05Mainz31138104839947
8Werder Bremen31137114854-646
9Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach31135135150144
10Augsburg311110103342-943
11Stuttgart31118125651541
12Wolfsburg31109125348539
13Union BerlinUnion Berlin3199133145-1436
14St Pauli3187162636-1031
15Hoffenheim3179154058-1830
16Heidenheim3174203360-2725
17Holstein Kiel3157194574-2922
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum3156203063-3321


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