Holstein Kiel vs Bayern Munich

Holstein-Stadion sets the stage for a first-ever Bundesliga encounter between newcomers Holstein Kiel and record-time champions Bayern Munich.

Holstein Kiel’s first-ever Bundesliga campaign has been off to an understandably troubled start despite a goal-glutted 3-2 DFB-Pokal win at Alemannia Aachen in the build-up. Marcel Rapp’s men have lost their opening two top-flight matches by a combined score of 5-2 after slumping to a 2-0 first-half deficit. As a result, the hosts could become only the third Bundesliga debutant to lose their first three league games, an unwanted feat they’ll unlikely avoid against the competition’s record-time winners. That said, Holstein Kiel stunned Bayern Munich in the 2020/21 DFB-Pokal round three, fighting back twice to hold them to a 2-2 draw in regulation before progressing on penalties. Interestingly, no Kiel’s home league outing since April 2018 has ended 0-0.

Visiting Bayern Munich will likely uphold that tradition after enjoying a dream start to life under new manager Vincent Kompany. Keen to wrestle the Bundesliga title back from Bayer Leverkusen after losing their 11-year stranglehold on the division last term, the Bavarians eased past Freiburg 2-0 at home on matchday two after an enthralling 3-2 day-one win at Wolfsburg. Worryingly, that victory was only their third across their last nine league games on hostile turf (D1, L5), with Bayern conceding an alarming average of 2.55 goals per match during that underwhelming sequence. However, they’ll be confident about maintaining their 100% league start after breaking the deadlock before halftime in both Bundesliga fixtures this season.