Erzgebirge Aue - SV Sandhausen

A draw seems likely between two counter-attack loving teams

TEAM NEWS

Aue are only without long-term absentee Nicky Adler, but they have a suitable replacement for him.

Sandhausen will again be without Stefan Kulovits, Marcel Seegert, Mirco Born, Rick Wulle, Robert Herrmann and Korbinian Vollmann, who are all injury concerns.

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nicky Adler (adductor)

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Stefan Kulovits (muscle), Marcel Seegert (eye); Mirco Born, Rick Wulle (both knee); Robert Herrmann (broken foot), Korbinian Vollmann (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Aue claimed an important 2-0 win on the road against Kaiserslautern last time out – it was a game that midfield player Soren Bertram scored twice in. Following their second win on the road in a row, they remain in the middle of the 2.Bundesliga table. However, they are a team who have struggled at their home games, winning just once in three games. Coach Hannes Drews has them playing high-pressing football – which was also typically for them last season under Doemico Tedesco. His friend Drews continues on this path now and with two wins in the last three games, it looks like that they have found their form again.

Sandhausen produced one of the surprise results at home in round seven. They started the match with a very deep standing 4-4-2 formation and did well to frustrate Union Berlin to gain the win. This was their second narrow 1-0 win at home in a row and their fourth win in seven matches. With their 14 points, they are in second and have made one of their best starts to the season this time round. The team are going from strength to strength and this win may reignite their spirit again.

Both teams love to sit back and wait for a counter-attack, so this match has the potential to end in a very uneventful game if neither of the teams decide to change their style of play. I’ll therefore go with a draw.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD – SANDHAUSEN

The first half in this fixture is very hard to predict as the outcomes in the teams’ past meetings have been so different. Some encounters have seen goals flow while others barely registered any at all. However, Sandhausen have managed to lead twice at half time in three of their league games so far while Aue have been behind in two of their three home matches. I’ll therefore go with an away win at the break here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Sandhausen have won only one of their five visits to Aue, but they did manage to pick up two draws (both 2-2) while the two wins for the home team resulted in a narrow 1-0 and a comfortable 2-0 result.