Hamburger SV - Arminia Bielefeld

Narrow victory for HSV

TEAM NEWS

Christian Titz’s Hamburg are at full strength ahead of this clash at Volkspark Stadium. Only the long-term injured Gideon Jung, Arianit Ferati, Matti Steinmann, Aron Hunt and Kyriakos Papadopoulos are absentees.

Bielefeld could be without midfielder Nils Quaschner, who is still recovering from a knee injury, and Cedric Brunner who succumbed to injury recently.

Hamburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Gideon Jung (both knee); Arianit Ferati (ligaments), Matti Steinmann (thigh), Aron Hunt (calf)

Bielefeld

Suspended: 

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nils Quaschner (knee), Cedric Brunner (meniscus)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Hamburg started the season with a 3-0 loss at home against Holstein Kiel but managed to claim their own 3-0 win in Sandhausen two weeks ago. The cup match against Regional West Team Erndtebruck was tougher than expected, particulatlyin the second half, with the team experiencing a lot of problems when it came to controlling the game, but they clinched a 5-3 win.Having registered two competitive wins in a row, they will have the momentum on their side as they go into this match and their morale will be high.

Bielefeld have taken almost maximum points from their first two fixtures in the 2. Bundesliga. Arminia came from behind to earn an excellent 1-1 draw at Heidenheim and followed that up with a 2-1 home win over Dresden, with Joan Simun Edmundsson and Fabian Klos scoring the goals. At the weekend Bielefeld eased to a 5-0 cup win away to lower league side Stendal, which will have boosted their confidence ahead of this match.

Bielefeld have started their season like they finished the last one and have now lost just once in their last nine league fixtures, dating to last term, with five draws and three wins. However, a trip to Volkspark Stadium is never an easy one and they need to be at their very best against one of the biggest promotion candidates in the 2. Bundesliga. Therefore, I fancy Hamburg to earn the three points on home soil.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN 

Six of the last eight league encounters between these two teams have seen even total goals.  Have a punt on even total goals to be scored again in this one.

HEAD TO HEAD

Hamburg and Bielefeld's last meeting took place in Germany's first division nine years ago, with Hamburg winning 2-0 at home and 4-2 on the road.