Pre-Match Report
Facts: Previously only two (cup) clashes with Kiel – 9-0 goals
The scenario: The teams are in 17th and eighth places respectively. Kiel are five points behind the relegation play-off place, which is exactly the same gap between BVB and a Champions League berth. It will be the first Bundesliga meeting between the two clubs.
Home/away: Holstein are the only Bundesliga club that has not yet drawn a match at home. However, the newcomers have also played only eight home games in the top flight. There have so far been two home wins (against Heidenheim and Augsburg) and six defeats. BVB celebrated their first away victory (3-1 in Wolfsburg) shortly before Christmas and only occupy 13th position in the away table (one victory, two draws and four defeats).
Head-to-head record: Both clubs have previously only met in the DFB-Pokal, with BVB winning clearly on both occasions. The Black & Yellows won 4-0 away in the quarter-finals in 2011/12 (goals: Lewandowski, Kagawa, Barrios, Perisic) and claimed an even clearer 5-0 home victory in the semi-finals nine years later (Reyna x 2, Reus, Hazard, Bellingham). The final score was already confirmed four minutes before the half-time interval.
Statistics: Holstein Kiel have already conceded more goals after 16 matchdays (41) than in the entirety of their promotion-winning season (39). The conceded goals have been spread almost equally across their home games (20) and away games (21). The Storks have kept only one clean sheet to date (in the 1-0 home win against Heidenheim on Matchday 9). However, BVB have also only kept clean sheets in three of their 16 games this season – most recently in their 4-0 home win against Freiburg. (br)