Sonntag, 24. Februar 2019

FC Magdeburg - SC Paderborn

Draw seems likely between the pair

TEAM NEWS
Magdeburg boss Michael Oenning will not be able to count on Aleksandar Ignjovski and Steven Lewerenz who both remain out injured.

Coach Steffen Baumgart has a fully-fit Paderborn team at his disposal, with only Leon Fesser, Khiry Shelton and Leon Bruggemeier out due to different injuries. Christian Strohdiek will miss with suspension, too.

Magdeburg
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Aleksandar Ignjovski (elbow), Steven Lewerenz (pulled muscle)

Paderborn
Suspended: Christian Strohdiek
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Leon Fesser (thigh); Khiry Shelton, Leon Bruggemeier (both knee)

MATCH PREVIEW
MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW
Magdeburg have been in excellent form lately. Just a couple of months ago, the side were fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table, but three wins and one draw in their four league matches in 2019 has lifted them out of the drop zone into 15th. Magdeburg’s 3-1 win at Bielefeld last weekend was their fourth success in the league this term, along with nine draws and nine defeats.

Paderborn have been in good form since mid-December, picking up 15 points from a possible 18 in the league. The team came from two goals down to win 3-2 against giants Cologne at Benteler Arena last time out, and they have now picked up three consecutive victories, including a 2-1 success at Bochum and a 6-0 thrashing of Greuther Furth at home. As a result, Steffen Baumgart’s men have moved into fifth in the table, two points adrift of the promotion/relegation playoff place.

On the whole, both teams have been hard to beat in recent weeks and I therefore expect them to cancel each other out.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO - HIGH
Both teams are in good form and this may result in goals. Magdeburg have scored in each of their last four league matches, finding the back of the net three times last time out, while Paderborn have netted 11 goals in their last three league games. When these two met in league action back in September, the encounter ended in a 4-4 draw - and I’m confident we will see plenty of goals here, too.

HEAD TO HEAD
Three of the last four league meetings have been draws, with Magdeburg victorious in the other one.

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