FC St. Pauli - Holstein Kiel

St. Pauli to claim their fourth home win

TEAM NEWS

St. Pauli's Marc Hornschuh, Jan-Philipp Kalla, Waldemar Sobota, Park Yi Young and Luca-Milan Zander are all injured and will not be available against Holstein Kiel.

Holstein Kiel's Arne Sicker, Mathias Honsak and Philipp Sander are sidelined while Aaron Seydel is a doubt with a heel injury.

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marc Hornschuh (spinal disc), Luca-Milan Zander (ankle), Jan Philipp Kalla (pubis), Waldemar Sobota (pulled muscle), Park Yi Young (not fit)

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Aaron Seydel (heel)

Injured/unavailable: Arne Sicker, Philipp Sander (both unspecified); Mathias Honsak (broken arm)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Since losing three in a row in August/September, St. Pauli have accumulated an impressive 13 points from their last five league games. After back-to-back wins over Ingolstadt (1-0) and Paderborn (2-1), the side secured a hard-earned 0-0 draw with Hamburg and followed that up with another two victories against Sandhausen (3-1) and Duisburg (1-0) last time out. That great streak has allowed them to jump into third place. They are level on points with Greuther Furth in second and are trailing leaders Cologne by only one point.

Holstein Kiel scored late last weekend to secure a solid 1-1 draw at home against leaders Cologne. The team have picked up just one win from their last six league matches, drawing two and losing three. The Storks have particularly been in patchy form on their travels this term, winning one, drawing one and losing the last three on the bounce. Tim Walter’s men currently occupy 11^thspot on 13 points.

St. Pauli will be hoping to continue their excellent run on home soil against weak travellers Holstein Kiel. I can see the home side nicking the three points here.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – ST. PAULI

St. Pauli have scored the opening goal in four of their six league wins this season. The home team should strike first in this league game, too.

HEAD TO HEAD

St. Pauli have won their last two home league meetings with Holstein Kiel, with their latest a 3-2 victory in February.