NOBARTV NEWS St Pauli vs Holstein Kiel – The crucial match between St Pauli and Holstein Kiel will take place at the Millerntor-Stadion on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 02.30 WIB. This match is very crucial for both teams who are fighting hard to avoid the relegation zone in the Bundesliga.
St Pauli are currently 16th with eight points, just two points above the automatic relegation zone, while Holstein Kiel are 17th with five points. Both teams have poor records in recent games, making this a high-pressure clash for all three points.
St Pauli
St Pauli came into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend. In that game, they struggled to cope with the visitors' pressure in the first half, who scored twice and created big chances. Coach Alexander Blessin was critical of his team's early performance and said they were not ready for Gladbach's first goal. Although St Pauli were better in the second half, they failed to capitalise on their chances.
St Pauli are now just two points behind 15th-placed Heidenheim, but their home form is a worry. St Pauli have failed to win any of their five games at the Millerntor-Stadion this season, failing to score in four of them. Their failure to score at home is one of the team's biggest problems, and one that they must address immediately if they are to stay in the Bundesliga.
In terms of players, St Pauli are in the midst of an injury crisis. Key players Sascha Burchert, Ben Alexander Voll and Sören Ahlers are all out, while forwards Elias Saad, Conor Metcalfe and Simon Zoller are also unavailable. Blessin is likely to field Jackson Irvine and Carlo Boukhalfa in midfield, with Johannes Eggestein leading the attack. Nikola Vasilj is expected to remain the first choice between the sticks.
Holstein Kiel
Holstein Kiel, on the other hand, come into this match after a 3-0 defeat to Mainz 05 on November 24. The defeat extended their poor run of form, with just two wins in 13 Bundesliga games this season. Marcel Rapp's side have struggled for goals, with just 12 goals scored in 13 games, making them one of the worst attacking sides in the league. On the other hand, they also have a very fragile defense, with 28 goals conceded, which is the second worst record in the Bundesliga.
The 3-0 defeat to Mainz also showed how weak Holstein Kiel are against stronger teams. They failed to create any big chances and were forced to deal with 10 shots from inside the box. Rapp expressed his frustration after the game, admitting that his team did not give 100% in the match. Holstein Kiel have also struggled away from home, winning just one of their six away games, which shows a major problem in dealing with pressure away from home.
In addition, Holstein Kiel will be without two key strikers, Alexander Bernhardsson and Andu Yobel Kelati, who are out with injuries. However, Kelati is expected to return in the coming days. Without them, Rapp will likely field Phil Harres and Steven Skrzybski up front, in a 3-5-2 formation. In defense, Holstein Kiel will once again rely on Marco Ivezic, Patrick Erras, and Max Geschwill as the center-back trio.
St Pauli vs. Holstein Kiel: Team News & Predicted Lineups
In this match, St Pauli is faced with a big problem in terms of player availability. With several key players injured, Blessin will likely use a more cautious formation by placing Jackson Irvine and Carlo Boukhalfa in midfield. Johannes Eggestein will spearhead the attack, while Nikola Vasilj is still trusted to guard the goal.
In the Holstein Kiel camp, despite the absence of two main strikers, Rapp still has options in Phil Harres and Steven Skrzybski to fill the striker position. Holstein Kiel will also rely on the strength of the midfield led by experienced players such as Lewis Holtby and Jens C. Knudsen. In the back line, the center-back trio of Marco Ivezic, Patrick Erras, and Max Geschwill will try to ward off any attacks from St Pauli.
St Pauli starting lineup: Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Nemeth; Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Treu; Afolayan, Eggestein, Guilavogui
Holstein Kiel starting lineup: Weiner; Ivezic, Erras, Geschwill; Becker, Holtby, Knudsen, Remberg, Puchacz; Harres, Skrzybski
St Pauli vs. Holstein Kiel Score Prediction
Given the poor form of both teams, this match is likely to end in a goalless draw. St Pauli have struggled to score goals, especially at home, while Holstein Kiel have also been poor away from home and have often failed to create chances. With both teams high on the pressure to win but struggling in attack, a 0-0 draw could be a realistic outcome.
The match between St Pauli and Holstein Kiel on November 29, 2024 will be a very important battle for both teams who are in the Bundesliga relegation zone. Although St Pauli is playing at home, Holstein Kiel will try hard to steal points, but their poor record in away games makes this match predicted to end in a draw.
With so much at stake, both St Pauli and Holstein Kiel will have to overcome their own internal issues to secure a win and move away from the threat of relegation. This is shaping up to be a thrilling and tense encounter.
The match streaming link can be found here: football link
