Wolfsburg vs. Holstein Kiel preview: Can the visitors claim an elusive away victory?

Holstein Kiel will look to claim their first away win of the Bundesliga season when they travel to the Volkswagen Arena for Friday’s meeting with Wolfsburg.

Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg are sitting in seventh position after winning eight, drawing three and losing seven of their 18 league matches. Die Wölfe have experienced mixed results in recent times, having won two and lost three of their last five Bundesliga matches. They lost to Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund in their final two league games of 2024, before they kicked off 2025 with back-to-back victories over Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, they were unable to make it three successive wins in their recent away meeting with Bayern Munich. Mohamed Amoura’s brace was not enough to salvage a point, as Wolfsburg fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat at the Allianz Arena.

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side will now return to the Volkswagen Arena, where they have won three of their last four league matches. They will be hoping to enjoy success in their first-ever Bundesliga home meeting with Holstein Kiel. Wolfsburg have the chance to complete a league double over Friday’s opponents after recording a 2-0 victory in August’s reverse fixture, courtesy of goals from Maximilian Arnold and Sebastiaan Bornauw.

Team News

Wolfsburg are unable to call upon the services of Lovro Majer, Rogério, Bartosz Białek, Jakub Kaminski and Kevin Paredes.

Holstein Kiel

Kiel are languishing in 17th position after winning three, drawing two and losing 13 of their 18 league games. They are currently three points behind Heidenheim in the relegation spot, while they are six points adrift of safety altogether. Kiel have boosted their survival hopes with two victories in their last four matches, claiming home wins against Augsburg and Dortmund on either side of an away defeat against Freiburg. 

Unfortunately for Marcel Rapp, his team were unable to make it three consecutive home league wins in last Saturday’s meeting with Hoffenheim. Andu Kelate scored a late consolation as Kiel fell to a 3-1 defeat, representing their seventh home league loss of the season. They will now head on their travels with aspirations of ending the wait for their first Bundesliga away victory after taking just two points from their eight top-flight road trips this term. The visitors know they have to improve defensively, having conceded two goals or more in each of their eight Bundesliga away games.

Team News

Kiel are without Patrick Erras, Carl Johansson and Colin Kleine-Bekel, while  Lewis Holtby is set to serve the second game of a two-match ban.