On Saturday evening, Holstein Kiel and Koln go head-to-head in the second leg of the Bundesliga relegation play-off. The hosts recorded a 1-0 win in the first leg in Cologne.
Holstein Kiel lost their last two Bundesliga.2 games, which cost them automatic promotion to the German top-flight. However, a 1-0 win in the first leg has put Ole Werner’s in pole position to make it to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history.
A Simon Lorenz goal was enough to give the second-tier side the advantage in this clash.
Holstein Kiel’s recent home record gives them cause for optimism, as they have lost just one of their last nine home games. A 3-2 defeat against Darmstadt in their last home game ended an eight-match unbeaten run on home soil in all competitions.
A key factor in their recent good home form has been good defensive displays, as they have kept five clean sheets in their previous seven matches on home soil.
Koln have been poor all season and the first leg defeat was not a major shock to most observers that have seen the Billy Goats play this season. Friedhelm Funkel’s team have won just one of their last four matches in all competitions.
Whatever happens, the veteran head coach will be replaced by Steffan Baumgart this summer.
Before the first leg, there was a small positive for Koln in the fact that they had kept two straight clean sheets in the German top-flight.
Although the visitors took four points from their last two away games in the Bundesliga, they have also won just once in their last seven matches on their travels in all competitions.
Forebet predicts that Holstein Kiel will seal their place in the Bundesliga for next season by recording a victory in a low-scoring encounter.