1.FC Kaiserslautern - Holstein Kiel

Kaiserslautern vs Holstein Kiel

Holstein Kiel to register first win in three months

TEAM NEWS

Kaiserslautern have five players on their injury list as Kacper Przybylko, Patrick Salata, Giuliano Modica, Daniel Halfar and Mads Albaek are all absent.

Holstein Kiel will have to do without the long-term injured Christopher Lenz, Arne Sicker and Manuel Janzer.

Kaiserslautern

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kacper Przybylko (foot), Mads Albaek (pubis); Patrick Salata, Giuliano Modica (both knee); Daniel Halfar (hip)

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christopher Lenz (adductor), Manuel Janzer (Achilles), Arne Sicker (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Kaiserslautern produced one of the surprise results last weekend as they beat Braunschweig 2-1 away from home. They put up a 4-2-3-1 formation and did well to frustrate their opponents, with Lukas Spalvis scoring a brace within the first 34 minutes. Michael Frontzeck’s men had been in very poor form before that latest win, with two draws and three defeats in the last six matches. Nevertheless, that victory should give them a confidence boost ahead of the upcoming matches. The team still sit at the bottom of the table and are eight points from safety. They are desperate for points.

Holstein Kiel have been very hard to beat under Markus Anfang this season and they make the trip to bottom side Kaiserslautern having lost only one of their past 14 league matches. However, they haven’t won since early November either. The Storks registered their fourth consecutive draw at the Holstein Stadium against high-flying Regensburg last Saturday afternoon, with the game ending 1-1. They now have a great opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Holstein Kiel are in a position to close the gap on second-placed Nurnberg to just one point if they can claim a vital victory here. This has the potential to go either way, but I believe the visitors can nick the three points. I’m backing a Holstein Kiel win.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – TWO

Three of Kaiserslautern’s last four home matches finished with exactly two total goals as did Holstein Kiel’s most recent league outing. The visitors have also scored exactly two on average away from home this season. The statistics indicate that we may see two total goals again here. 

HEAD TO HEAD

Kaiserslautern have never hosted Holstein Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga. However, Kiel won 2-1 at home earlier this season in their most recent meeting in September.