Erzgebirge Aue - SV Darmstadt 98

Two struggling teams searching for their form

TEAM NEWS

Aue are without long-term absentee Nicky Adler while Nicolai Rapp has received his fifth yellow card and is suspended against Darmstadt.

Peter Niemeyer is the only player on Darmstadt’s injury list.

Aue

Suspended: Nicolai Rapp

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nicky Adler (adductor)

Darmstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Peter Niemeyer (heel)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Aue suffered a crushing 4-0 loss away at Dresden last Sunday, in what was their worst defeat of the season – their second worst arriving via a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Duisburg only three weeks ago. Last weekend’s result has left Aue with just one win in the last eight league games and they are now in 15^th place, with a poor goal difference of -8. The team have only won three times on their own turf this season and they will be looking to secure home win number four here.

Darmstadt have not won in their last ten league games and a journey to Aue will prove a tough test of their credentials. Only one place and one point are separating Torsten Frings’ men from Aue, but their current league position is completely unexpected for a club of their calibre and this may be the last chance for Frings to safe his job as the team are coming off yet another defeat at home against Regensburg last time out, losing 1-0. They also have one of the worst away records in the 2. Bundesliga with just one win, four draws and two defeats, ten goals scored and 13 conceded. This will be a do-or-die game for Darmstadt.

This match is very hard to predict because neither of these teams have excelled recently. I therefore feel that both will be happy with a draw here.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD - DRAW

Both teams are finding themselves at the wrong end of results and will have to improve considerably. They have both been nervous at the start of their games, with Aue scoring only twice and Darmstadt three times before the break in their last eight matches. A draw at half time should be the best choice here too.

HEAD TO HEAD

Aue have hosted Darmstadt only once in the 2.Bundesliga in a narrow game which they lost 1-0 in 2015.