In the last round, Wolfsburg put up a commendable fight against the domestic powerhouse Bayern Munich (2:3), while Holstein Kiel continue to show their intent to retain their spot in the top flight. We can expect a thrilling opener to the upcoming Bundesliga round, with both teams eager to showcase their attacking prowess.
Before their defeat in Munich, Wolfsburg started the calendar year in style with victories over Hoffenheim (1:0) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (5:1). As a result, Die Wölfe find themselves in the top six of the Bundesliga by expected goals in January (5.92 xG), only outscored by Bayern over the past 270 minutes (8 vs 9). On the downside, Wolfsburg have shown vulnerability in defence, allowing Bayern to generate 2.87 xG and take 25 shots.
Holstein Kiel rebooted before the winter break with a win over Augsburg (5:1) and have continued to delight fans with goal-laden performances in January. Last week, the team from Kiel pulled off a sensational victory against Borussia Dortmund (4:2) before succumbing to relegation rival Hoffenheim (1:3) — with over 2.5 goals occurring in five consecutive matches. It's clear that on Friday, Holstein Kiel will not deviate from their chosen attacking model.
In nine home matches, Wolfsburg have seen the total over 2.5 hit on seven occasions. The first leg didn't yield points for Holstein Kiel (0:2), but now with open football anticipated from both sides, there's hope for a high-scoring exchange.
