Sonntag, 23. September 2018

MSV Duisburg - Erzgebirge Aue

Duisburg to seal first win of the season

TEAM NEWS

Duisburg’s John Verhoek has a shoulder issue which will keep him out of this weekend league clash. Meanwhile, Enis Hajri is still recovering from an ankle injury while the long-term injured Christian Gartner is expected to be out for the remainder of the year.

Goalkeeper Robert Jendrusch is the only absentee for Daniel Meyer’s Aue.

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christian Gartner (knee), Enis Hajri (ankle), John Verhoek (shoulder)

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Robert Jendrusch (meniscus)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Duisburg have failed to win in the league so far, with their uninspiring 1-0 victory over lower division side Dassendorf in the German cup the only competitive success. The side have so far been beaten by Dresden 1-0, Bochum 2-0, Darmstadt 3-0 and Greuther Furth 1-0 in league action and failed to hold on to a 2-1 lead away against Union Berlin last time out, with the league game finishing in a frustrating 2-2 draw at Alte Forsterei as the hosts scored the equaliser in stoppage time. As a result of that poor run of form, Duisburg are sitting at the bottom of the table with only one point from an available 15 and two goals to their name.

Aue survived by the skin of their teeth last season, and it could be another year of struggles for the Viola. Daniel Meyer picked up his first league win of the season last weekend since taking over the managerial reigns at Erzgebirgs Stadium in the summer, winning 3-1 against St. Pauli on home soil. However, the side had drawn one and lost three of the previous four league matches and will have to prove that their only victory hasn't just been a blip. 

Neither team have started the new campaign well, but Duisburg head into this one with the home advantage while their last league match – despite ending in a draw – will have given them the belief that they are capable of winning games. This has the potential of being a scrappy league game, so I’m not expecting a goal fest, but Duisburg can edge it on home turf.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – ODD

Four of the last six league meetings between the pair have resulted in odd total goals and I can see this happening again in Duisburg this weekend.

HEAD TO HEAD

Duisburg have won five and drawn two of their last seven home league meetings with Aue. Meanwhile, Aue have not beaten the Zebras in league action since 2010, losing six and drawing one since.

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