Bayern in search of third successive win in trip to Holstein Kiel.

After back-to-back defeats, Bundesliga debutants Die Störche take on Bayern this weekend, hoping to pick up an unlikely win. Holstein Kiel vs. FC Bayern Munich kicks off at 17:30 [GMT+1] on Saturday, September 14 at Holstein-Stadion.

Goals from Maximilian Arnold [27’] and centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw [30’], three minutes apart, saw Bundesliga debutants Holstein Kiel suffer back-to-back league defeats [LL] following a 2-0 loss to Werder Bremen on Match Day 2. Having no points ahead of MD3, Kiel are seated in the relegation playoff spot. With a game against Bayern Munich up next, Marcel Rapp could see the winless run grow to three games. While Die Störche will become the 56th side Bayern would face in the competition, this will be the second time both sides will face each other in a competitive match following an earlier encounter in the DFB Pokal in 2020/21. While a weekend victory appears near impossible, Holstein Kiel would be looking to capitalise on the Bavarians’ leaky defence on the road, one that has seen them concede in their last 12 BL trips. However, Marcel Rapp’s side also have defensive worries of their own. The Storks have conceded five times in just two games, a league high right behind the duo of Stuttgart and Augsburg, both having conceded six goals. A 3—4—1—2 with Benedikt Pichler and Shuto Machino in attack is expected against Bayern Munich.

Bayern are one of the three sides to have won both opening games, following a 2-0 win against Freiburg on Match Day 2. Thomas Müller [78’] came off the bench not only to put the game beyond Freiburg's reach but also to claim a personal milestone for himself after making a record 475th Bundesliga appearance for Bayern Munich. Vincent Kompany called the win 'another step forward.' While the Bavarians hope for a third successive win, a particularly worrying trend at the defensive end could see them return without three points. No other side in the Bundesliga has conceded more goals on the road than Bayern [25, same as Hoffenheim] in the current calendar year [2024]. Although Bayern have lost their most recent game against a Bundesliga debutant, they will be looking to extend a nine-game winning run against a side they will be facing in the competition for the first time. A 4—2—3—1 with Harry Kane, who was responsible for both goals in England’s 2-0 win over Finland, in attack is expected. The Englishman had seen one of his goals ruled out before converting two of four clear-cut chances. He will be returning to Vincent Kompany’s matchday squad alongside the likes of Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, who was on target in Germany’s 2-2 draw against the Netherlands.