Leverkusen ready to face Holstein Kiel in Bundesliga clash

Currently sitting fourth in the league table with 10 points, Leverkusen have drawn 1-1 against Bayern Munich in a hard-fought encounter on September 28. Despite possessing only 31% of the ball, head coach Xabi Alonso praised his team's discipline under pressure, reflecting on their resilience against a dominant Bayern side.

Leverkusen bounced back in their recent Champions League fixture, securing a 1-0 victory against AC Milan. Victor Boniface's goal in the 51st minute ensured they remained competitive in Europe.

Since their narrow 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig on August 31, Leverkusen have recorded four wins in five matches, netting 14 goals while conceding just five. Their impressive home record stands at 23 wins, four draws, and only one loss in their last 28 games at the BayArena, although they struggled recently with three wins in their last six home outings.

Alonso faces no significant injury concerns ahead of the Holstein clash, likely fielding a fully fit squad. Defenders Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie, who have been integral to their defensive setup, are expected to start again. Exequiel Palacios made a timely return as a substitute against Milan and could replace Aleix Garcia in midfield.

On the other hand, newly promoted Holstein Kiel have faced a challenging season, with four losses in their first five league matches leaving them in a precarious position. Their only point came from a 2-2 draw against VfL Bochum on September 21, where they briefly took the lead. Kiel's defence had been leaky, conceding 17 goals, the highest in the division, while scoring only seven, placing them fourth from the bottom in attack.

In their away matches, Kiel have managed four goals but conceded five, reflecting a tough adjustment to Bundesliga life.

Injuries continued to plague the squad, with centre-back Colin Kleine-Bekel and attacking midfielder Andu Yobel Kelati sidelined until November, alongside Patrick Erras and Carl Johansson missing until mid-October. Marco Komenda is likely to join Timo Becker and Max Geschwill in a back three, while Lewis Holtby, Magnus Knudsen, and Armin Gigovic will bolster the midfield supporting forwards Benedikt Pichler and Shuto Machino.

With Leverkusen looking to secure vital points and Kiel desperate to turn their fortunes around, Saturday's clash promised to be a pivotal encounter in the Bundesliga season.

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