Mainz vs Holstein Kiel prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2025-04-04 13:30.
[p]Mainz still have their sights set on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, but their momentum has stalled following last weekend’s 3-1 Bundesliga defeat to Borussia Dortmund and their 2-2 draw with Freiburg prior to the international break. Bo Henriksen couldn’t pinpoint why his side haven’t been at their best lately, but he’ll be acutely aware that they’ll have to get back to that level soon to avoid dropping out of the top four.[/p]
[p]Returning home to more familiar surroundings might inspire his side to produce a better performance as the 05ers take on bottom side Holstein Kiel bidding to extend a nine-match unbeaten league run on their own patch (W6, D3). As they have scored at least twice in seven of the last eight of those games, Mainz fans will head to the MEWA Arena feeling optimistic of completing a league H2H double.[/p]
[p]Things are looking bleak for Kiel, who come into this fixture following two consecutive defeats and now sit five points behind 16th-placed Heidenheim. Head coach Marcel Rapp is trying everything to turn things around, including making the Bundesliga’s earliest-ever triple substitution against Werder Bremen (3-0) last weekend since the five-substitutions-per-game rule was introduced![/p]
[p]Even such drastic measures didn’t improve the Storks’ fortunes, and they have now won only one of their last ten matches (D3, L6). Most of their struggles have come away from home, where they’ve secured just one league win all season (D3, L9). As they have only picked up one point on their travels against those currently sitting in the top seven this term (D1, L4), another difficult afternoon looks likely, even if they maintain their record of scoring in every Bundesliga away fixture this campaign![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Paul Nebel netted Mainz’s consolation against Dortmund last weekend, meaning that three of his last four goals have now arrived after the 50th minute. Kiel’s Phil Harres could be a threat even later, as three of his last four Bundesliga goals have come after the 80th minute, although he was one of the players Rapp substituted after 35 minutes last weekend.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Each of Mainz’s five home league games this term against sides currently 13th or lower in the table have produced exactly two goals (W3, D1, L1).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]