Matchday in focus: Holstein Kiel

Eintracht Frankfurt

·15 February 2025

Matchday in focus: Holstein Kiel

Holstein Kiel have conceded too many goals since gaining promotion last term, leaving them second-bottom in the table and in the thick of a relegation battle.

Tactics

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Kiel play with three at the back, with head coach Marcel Rapp rarely deviating from his 3-4-2-1 system – if at all. Their tally of 54 goals conceded is a Bundesliga-high, as is…

… their record of 32 goals conceded in the first half of games,
… their opponents’ 362 shots,
… and the 13 headed goals they have conceded.

Kiel’s own goalscoring burden rests on the shoulders of Shuto Machino, who has scored eight times in all competitions this season and netted twice in Eintracht’s 4-2 victory in the corresponding fixture, and Phil Harres, who has registered seven Bundesliga goals this term. With 13 points so far, Kiel currently sit second-bottom in the table.

Absentees

Eintracht will be without Junior Dina Ebimbe (lack of fitness following calf injury), Igor Matanovic (foot) and Robin Koch (shoulder) on Sunday, while Ellyes Skhiri is a doubt with a rib injury.

Colin Kleine-Bekel, Patrick Erras , Carl Johansson, Steven Skrzybski, John Tolkin and Alexander Bernhardsson (all injured) are absent for the visitors.

One to watch: Finn Porath

Kiel’s 27-year-old midfielder Finn Porath has developed into a key player since signing for the Storks in summer 2019, recording 14 goals and 16 assists in 173 competitive appearances for the club. He has played in 23 games so far this season, starting on 19 occasions.

Porath…

… joined Kiel after making 60 third-tier appearances for Unterhaching, where he scored six goals and set up another.
… has had 21 attempts at goal this term – fewer than only two of his team-mates – and registered a goal and two assists in the league.
… was directly involved in eight goals in Kiel’s 2023/24 promotion campaign.
… made nine appearances for Germany’s Under-16 side and won the Torneio Internacional Algarve with the Under-17s.

Runs and stats

Eintracht are unbeaten in 13 Bundesliga games against promoted clubs, winning ten and drawing three. The Eagles have yet to lose in the top flight in 2025.

Kiel are enduring a difficult debut season in the Bundesliga, picking up only 13 points from their 21 games so far. The Storks are without a win on their travels this term, despite finding the net in every away game. However, they have also conceded at least twice in each of those encounters.

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Matchday in focus: Holstein Kiel | OneFootball