Greuther Furth Vs Holstein Kiel
Greuther Furth Vs Holstein Kiel Saturday, 16 July 2022 – 12:00 (BST)
German Bundesliga 2
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: WilliamHill
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 13 July 2022)
Preview: Having found the Bundesliga too hot last term, Greuther Furth must reacquaint themselves with some familiar adversaries now back in Bundesliga 2 company. They will, however, appreciate the sight of their Matchday 1 opponents, seeking a third successive head-to-head victory against Holstein Kiel.
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Table of Contents
Greuther Furth – Cloverleaves require time to reacclimatise?
Getting to the promised land that is the German top tier is one thing, staying there for an extended period is entirely another. For the second time this millennium, the Cloverleaves would go up to the Bundesliga only to head straight back down – demoted without ever really presenting credible resistance. They finished stone last in 2021-22, winning three of 34 games to limp home 15 points off safety.
All three said victories would come at their Sportpark Ronhof stadium where, in 2020-21, they produced the sixth-best figures for a home team – winning nine of 17 (D4 L4) – as they clinched promotion via second place. In truth, it is risky reading too much into last season, so outclassed were they. But a first port of call for new manager Marc Schneider must be improving a defence that allowed 82 goals in just 34 matches.
Key Stat: Greuther Furth would manage eight goals across their final 12 Bundesliga games last season (D5 L7), never scoring more than once during this period.
Holstein Kiel – Storks to pick up from where they left off?
Following the high and, ultimately, crushing disappointment that was the 2020-21 season – when a third place finish very nearly translated into a first ever promotion to the Bundesliga, only to succumb 5-1 on aggregate to FC Koln in the play-off – came the low of 2021-22. Holstein Kiel would finish ninth last season, barely sneaking a top-half finish, thanks largely to their earlier missteps.
It took Die Storche until Matchday 5 to chalk up their first victory of last term, and by the end of October they only had a further one win from twelve outings. A pity then, because they would end up seeing the season out strongly. Across the final six outings Marcel Rapps’ charges would lose only once, winning three, and pick up the notable scalps of Werder Bremen (won 3-2 away) and Hamburg (won 2-1 at home).
Key Stat: Holstein Kiel would win just one of their last six away league games (W1 D1 L4) in Bundesliga 2 last term. However, that sole triumph was at home the home of a Werder Bremen side that subsequently secured promotion through second place.
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Greuther Furth Vs Holstein Kiel Betting Advice
The Cloverleaves should appreciate stepping back down in class, after struggling throughout last season’s Bundesliga campaign. This isn’t to assume, though, that they will immediately take to Bundesliga 2 again. Although they have been handed a favourable opening assignment. These teams met at this level as recently as 2020-21, when Greuther Furth did the double over Holstein Kiel (2-1 at home, 3-1 away).
Greuther Furth Vs Holstein Kiel – Key Facts:
- After winning only one of their first six meetings, Greuther Furth would win each of the last two versus Holstein Kiel – both during the 2020-21 Bundesliga 2 campaign.
- Of their all-time meetings, six would see Over 2.5 Goals and six saw Both Teams to Score land. A bet on both, Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score, returned a winner on five occasions including the time both were in the Bundesliga 2 (2020-21).
- Six of Greuther Furth’s final eight home games in last season’s Bundesliga campaign featured both teams on the scoresheet. This was also the case in all but one of Holstein Kiel’s last five away encounters in Bundesliga 2 last term.
Prior to those aforementioned clashes, however, it was actually Holstein Kiel who had enjoyed the better of their meetings, losing once in six (W2 D3). All have been in Bundesliga 2 and all since 2017. Moreover, Die Storche would end 2021-22 in fine fettle, winning three and losing once across the closing six rounds.
The safe play is goals, with all but one of six previous head-to-heads seeing both teams score. Greuther Furth were also remarkably porous defensively last season. But 8/13 that the visitors come away with a minimum of a point also seems reasonable.
Best Betting Odds – Greuther Further Vs Holstein Kiel
Greuther Furth – 13/10 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 12/5 (BetVictor)
Holstein Kiel – 11/5 (Bet365)
