Holstein Kiel - FC St. Pauli

St. Pauli to stop Holstein Kiel’s unbeaten run

TEAM NEWS

Bielefeld will have to do without the long-term injured Christopher Lenz and Manuel Janzer while Arne Sicker will miss again with illness.

Duisburg will again not have the long-term injured Ryo Miyaichi and Philipp Ziereis at their disposal while Christopher Buchtmann faces a fresh ankle injury. In addition, they will miss Joel Keller due to a suspension as the player was sent off in a lower league match with St. Pauli’s Under-23s.

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christopher Lenz (adductor), Manuel Janzer (achilles), Arne Sicker (infection)

St. Pauli

Suspended: Joel Keller

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ryo Miyaichi (knee), Philipp Ziereis (muscle), Christopher Buchtmann (ankle)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Holstein Kiel claimed an impressive 3-0 victory on their last visit to Aue and it was a game that striker Marvin Ducksch scored twice in – his fourth and fifth goal this season. The newly-promoted club are unstoppable, having scored at least two goals in each of their league games so far, and they boast an impressive goal difference of +6. They have now won their last four league games in a row. However, only the last match ended in a clean sheet for them while they conceded exactly one in each of the other three.

St. Pauli lost 4-0 at home against Ingolstadt on Saturday, but on the road they are a totally different prospect. They feel much more comfortable away from home, having won two of their last three, and as a result of their lengthy injury list they have to rely on fast counter-attacks. Coach Olaf Janssen will need to look at strengthening his defence though after conceding four goals in the last game. The team should be more than motivated though – a win here would mean that they would be the first team to break through Holstein Kiel’s incredible run of 13 unbeaten home games.

Holstein Kiel have been hot and will without a doubt aim for another home win here, but St Pauli are tough opponents. I expect a different outcome – draw.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – HOLSTEIN KIEL

Holstein Kiel have scored ten of their 15 goals in the first half while St. Pauli tend to wait until after the break, having netted just one first-half goal so far. The likelihood that Kiel start well in the first half again is high and I can see this pattern continue here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Holstein Kiel have played only once against St. Pauli in the 2.Bundesliga, beating them 2-1 in 1979 in an entertaining game.