Holstein Kiel must start picking up points to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga, beginning on Sunday away from home against Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
Union are in 13th place with 24 points but were thrashedthrashed 6-0 by Borussia Dortmund on February 22, while the visitors were defeated 2-0 on the same day by Bayer Leverkusen and are last in 18th place with just 13 points.
Match preview
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The hosts were dominated by Dortmund, facing nearly five xG and nine big chances, six of which came in the second half when BVB scored four of their six goals.
Die Eisernen failed to create a big chance and only mustered one shot on target last time out, and fans will be concerned that the club have been prevented from scoring in five of their past eight fixtures.
Boss Steffen Baumgart will not be too worried about the threat of relegation given his team are nine points ahead of 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the league's relegation playoff spot.
Union have now lost two consecutive games while conceding eight goals, as many as they had conceded in their prior six outings.
Though Baumgart's side have only won one of their last eight matches at home, they have only been beaten on three occasions in that time, earning impressive draws against RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
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As for Holstein Kiel, they come into the clash having produced just one shot from inside the penalty area against Leverkusen while facing nearly two xG, as well as 14 attempts from inside their own box.
Leverkusen's victory means the visitors have now conceded at least two goals in each of their last eight games, though their recent defensive frailty can in part be explained by the fact they have faced the Bundesliga's top three in three of their past four outings.
Holstein are only two points from 16th-placed Heidenheim but are eight points from 15th-placed St Pauli, who are the final team guaranteed safety.
Marcel Rapp's side are winless in their six most recent matches – losing four – and have lost 13 of their last 18 games, a period that includes a 2-0 defeat against Union Berlin in the league on October 20.
The Storks' away record is poor, with the club having failed to win any of their past 12 fixtures on the road, succumbing to defeat in nine of those matches.
Team News
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Union midfielder Aljoscha Kemlein's foot injury will keep him from the pitch for the rest of the season, so perhaps Janik Haberer and Rani Khedira could be trusted to play in a double pivot.
Centre-back Oluwaseun Ogbemudia is set to miss Sunday's matchup, as will full-back Robert Skov due to an ankle issue, though the duo may return by the middle of next month.
Diogo Leite and Danilho Doekhi have frequently appeared in the backline this term, and they could be flanked by Josip Juranovic and Tom Rothe.
Opponents Holstein Kiel will have to contend with numerous injury absentees, including defenders Colin Kleine-Beckel, Patrick Erras, Ivan Nekic, Carl Johansson and John Tolkin.
Centre-backs Marko Ivezic, David Zec and Marco Komenda are likely to be stationed in back three.
With Finn Porath unavailable for a few more days, Armin Gigovic, Nicolai Remberg and Lewis Holtby could be chosen to anchor the team in midfield.
In the forward line, Phil Harres and Shuto Machino are almost certain to partner each other up front given Alexander Bernhardsson, Benedikt Pichler and Jann-Fiete Arp will not be in the matchday squad.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Juranovic, Doekhi, Leite, Rothe; Haberer, Khedira; Skarke, Jeong, Hollerbach; Ilic
Holstein Kiel possible starting lineup:
Weiner; Ivezic, Zec, Komenda; Rosenboom, Gigovic, Remberg, Holtby, Javorcek; Harres, Machino
We say: Union Berlin 1-1 Holstein Kiel
Holstein must start collecting points if they are to give themselves any chance of avoiding the drop, but they could leave themselves vulnerable at the back if they push forward too quickly.
However, Union could prove to be defensively frail themselves considering their poor record in recent weeks, and it would not be surprising if both teams scored.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
