On January 24, 2025, VfL Wolfsburg will host Holstein Kiel at the Volkswagen Arena for matchday 19 of the Bundesliga. The kickoff is set for 21:30. This matchup holds significant importance for both teams, particularly for Holstein Kiel, who are struggling near the bottom of the league table.
Wolfsburg currently occupies the 7th spot, with 27 points from 18 matches. Their campaign has seen them register 8 victories, 3 draws, and 7 defeats. The team has managed to score 35 goals but has conceded 27, resulting in a positive goal difference. Statistically, Wolfsburg tends to score the majority of their goals — 55% — during the final fifteen minutes of games. Conversely, they often concede 30% of their goals within the second third of the first half, highlighting a potential vulnerability the team may need to address.
On the other hand, Holstein Kiel finds themselves languishing at 17th place with just 11 points from the same number of matches, suffering 13 defeats along the way. Their record includes 3 wins and 2 draws. Kiel has struggled defensively, with their goal difference at -20, giving up 27 goals and scoring only 7. They are particularly susceptible to early pressures, allowing 17% of their goals against during the first third of the match.
Both teams have recently encountered mixed results. Wolfsburg won 2 of their last 5 matches but also suffered 3 losses, including one against Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Holstein Kiel managed to secure only one victory during this timeframe, with four defeats. The discrepancy between the two teams is stark, with Wolfsburg having 16 points more and performing considerably favorably compared to Kiel's desperate situation.
Looking at their head-to-head record, Wolfsburg emerged victorious against Kiel in their first encounter of the season, winning 2:0 away. Historically, these two teams have met 16 times, with Wolfsburg winning 6, drawing 2, and 8 victories to Kiel, demonstrating Kiel's ability to challenge strong teams.
Recent analyses point to Wolfsburg as the clear favorite for the upcoming clash. Betting odds show Wolves at approximately 1.42 for victory, reflecting around a 70% probability of winning according to FONBET analytics. Kiel's chance of winning is estimated at only 14%, with odds of 6.90, underscoring the significant disparity between the teams.
Both teams have shown tendencies to score, making it likely both will find the net during their matchup. Betting firms are aligning with this expectation, with odds favoring both teams to score being appealing at 1.71. Holstein Kiel has managed to score at least once per match lately, adding to the rationale for this bet.
Team news has also brought attention to the injury lists, which could play pivotal roles in the outcome of the match. Wolfsburg will miss several key players, including Kamil Grabara and Paredes, among others. For Kiel, injuries to players like Klayne-Beckel and Johansson could weaken their already fragile squad.
Analysts suggest taking advantage of the favorable betting conditions on Wolfsburg to win combined with over 2.5 goals at odds of 1.94, which seems plausible considering both teams' recent scoring forms. Another potentially lucrative bet is on Wolfsburg to win with a handicap (-2) at odds of 3.00.
Given all these factors, predictions lean overwhelmingly toward Wolverhampton's victory, with possible scorelines predicting ranges from 2:1 to 3:1, showcasing expectations of goals. Indeed, with both teams working to overcome significant challenges—Wolfsburg's fight for European qualification and Kiel's battle to escape relegation—the stakes are high. Expect both attacks to try and capitalize on any defensive lapses as both teams vie for the much-needed points.