FC Heidenheim - MSV Duisburg

Heidenheim to continue their unbeaten home run

TEAM NEWS

Heidenheim have no important injuries worries and Denis Thomalla is their only absentee due to injury concerns.

Duisburg will have to do without the long-term injured Zlatko Janjic, Tim Albutat and Branimir Bajic who all missed the game against Heidenheim.

Heidenheim

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Denis Thomalla (unspecified)

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Zlatko Janjic (knee), Tim Albutat (ankle), Branimir Bajic (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Heidenheim started the season with a 2-0 loss at Braunschweig but managed a 2-1 win against Aue last Wednesday with their match having been rescheduled. The cup match against third-tier team Unterhaching was tougher than expected – but only in the first half, with the team thrashing their opponents 4-0 by the time the final whistle was blown. Having registered two competitive wins in a row, they will have momentum on their side as they go into this match and they will be high in morale.

Newly-promoted Duisburg have had an average start to the season, having claimed just one point against Bochum in their first two games, but they have been producing good performances – and this will let them hope for better results in the upcoming weeks. However, they will need to address their apparent lack of chances to score goals quickly.

This game will come too soon for Duisburg. I’ll back a home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD – DRAW

With neither of the teams producing many goals, having scored just three in their combined four matches so far, I expect a close match with only a small number of goals finding the back of the net and I tend towards a draw at half time.

HEAD TO HEAD

Duisburg have not claimed a victory against Heidenheim in recent years and have lost the last two league games without scoring.