Dynamo Dresden - SV Sandhausen

Dresden set to claim their second home win in a row

TEAM NEWS

Dresden have Justin Lowe, Pascal Testroet and Eero Markkanen out with injuries, while Niklas Hauptmann is still doubtful with calf problems.

Sandhausen are still missing Mirco Born, Rick Wulle, Tim Kister and Robert Herrmann.

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Niklas Hauptmann (calf)

Injured/unavailable: Justin Lowe (ankle), Pascal Testroet (knee)

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Andrew Wooten (unspecified)

Injured/unavailable: Mirco Born (knee), Rick Wulle (knee), Robert Herrmann (broken foot)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Dresden have got off to a good start this season, having claimed a win in their opener against Duisburg at home, followed by a deserved draw against St. Pauli. Of course, they will be hoping for this unbeaten run to continue, but such promising results at the beginning of the new campaign have come as a surprise. They beat lower league team Koblenz 3-2 in the cup last Friday, but were lucky to secure a win as youngster Markus Schubert saved a penalty in the last minute.

Nevertheless, this might be a tricky game for them as they will face very uncomfortable opponents. With one of the best starts in the club’s history, Sandhausen are yearning for more. The team were close to winning at Kiel in the opener but conceded a late equaliser while they won deservedly 1-0 against Ingolstadt, who are a higher rated team. Sandhausen can count on a strong defence and fast counter-attacks which appears to have hurt some of their opponents already. Sandhausen were knocked out against lower league outfit Schweinfurt in the cup on Sunday.

This will be a tough encounter with both teams having started the season with an unbeaten run. I’ll back a home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD – DRAW

Both teams count on a strong defensive line. Having lost just two of their last 15 home games, they are solid and defend better in front of their own fans and Sandhausen will find it difficult to score against them. A scoreless draw at half time is therefore possible.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams last met in March, with Dresden beating their opponents 2-0 in front of their own fans. However, Sandhausen won their own home game 2-0 in September the year before.