FC St. Pauli - 1.FC Nürnberg

Another Nurnberg win seems likely against home struggling St. Pauli

TEAM NEWS

St. Pauli’s Ryo Miyaichi, Marc Hornschuh, Enver Cenk Sahin and Christopher Buchtmann are still absent but are all working on their comeback.

Nurnberg’s key player Sebastian Kerk will miss out with a long-term injury while Enis Alushi and Dennis Lippert are both out with knee problems. Furthermore, they have Lucas Hufnagel and Georg Margreitter marked as doubtful. The team are also without their quick winger Edgar Salli after a red card against Union Berlin last Friday.

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ryo Miyaichi (knee), Marc Hornschuh (back), Christopher Buchtmann (pubis), Enver Cenk Sahin (thigh)

Nurnberg

Suspended: Edgar Salli

Doubtful: Lucas Hufnagel (ankle), Georg Margreitter (pulled muscle)

Injured/unavailable: Sebastian Kerk (hamstring); Enis Alushi, Dennis Lippert (both knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

St. Pauli have been far too inconsistent for Markus Kauczinski’s liking so far this season. Two back-to-back losses have seen St. Pauli falling from the top six to mid-table. Over the years, the Millerntor has been somewhat of a fortress, but St. Pauli have won only two of their 11 league games on their own patch. They were beaten 3-1 at Heidenheim last time out.

Nurnberg claimed an impressive 4-1 victory at home against Aue last Friday, with midfielder Kevin Mohwald scoring a brace. The club remain second in the 2. Bundesliga and are trailing leaders Dusseldorf by three points, while they are boasting the best goal difference at +17. They have scored at least one in each of their nine league games, but  top scorer Mikael Ishak has not found the net in their last three games. Nurnberg is on a nine games unbeaten run.

Nurnberg have taken more points on the road than at home this term, and they are coming up against a St. Pauli side who have the second poorest home record in the league. Therefore I’m predicting an away win here.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD – DRAW

Five of the teams’ last seven meetings have been level at half time. I expect this to continue.

HEAD TO HEAD

St. Pauli drew 1-1 against Nurnberg in their last home game in October 2016. Overall, they have picked up six wins, four draws and four defeats in front of their own fans against these opponents.

SV Sandhausen - Eintr. Braunschweig

Sandhausen unable to make it fourth home win in a row

TEAM NEWS

Sandhausen will be without Damian Rossbach, Philipp Klingmann, Andrew Wooten, Ken Gibson and Stefan Kulovits, who are all out due to injury concerns.

Braunschweig have Julius Biada out injured while Mirko Boland and Joseph Baffo have suffered a knee injury and are unavailable too.

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Damian Rossbach, Philipp Klingmann (both head); Andrew Wooten (pulled muscle), Stefan Kulovits (unspecified), Ken Gibson (calf)

Braunschweig

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Joseph Baffo, Mirko Boland (both knee); Julius Biada (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Sandhausen’s four-match unbeaten run came to an end last Friday as they were very unlucky to be beaten 1-0 by league leaders Dusseldorf. The team struggled to find the same goalscroing form as in their last four matches and the best opportunity was missed by defender Tim Kister from the penalty spot in the 75^th minute. Nevertheless, coach Kenan Kocan was happy with his team’s performance as they were in the game all the time, with only luck the deciding factor. They will be looking to get back to winning ways straight away against Braunschweig.

Braunschweig are going through another tough patch of form, having won one, drawn one and lost three of the last five matches in the league. Their 2-1 home defeat to bottom side Kaiserslautern last Sunday left coach Torsten Lieberknecht very disappointed. The team have dropped down to 13th as a result for their poor recent form and are now only three points above the drop zone.

Braunschweig  have never lost away at Sandhausen and although they have not at all been convincing of late, I think they could get at least a draw here as they have been hard to beat on the road this season.

SECOND PREDICTION: CORRECT SCORE – 0-0

Braunschweig have kept five clean sheets in their last seven league matches at Sandhausen. Sandhausen have not managed to score in two of their last three league games. I predict a 0-0 draw.

HEAD TO HEAD

Sandhausen have hosted Braunschweig seven times in the 2. and 3. Bundesliga. Six of  those matches have ended with a win for the visitors while there has been one draw.

Greuther Fürth - Dynamo Dresden

Greuther Furth to extend good home record

TEAM NEWS

Greuther Furth won’t have Mathis Bolly, Nik Omladic and Balazs Megyeri at their disposal.

Dresden are still without the long-term injured Pascal Testroet, Soren Gonther and Marvin Schwabe while they have Niklar Kreuzer, Jannik Muller and Haris Duljevic sidelined with suspensions.

Greuther Furth

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Mathis Bolly (muscle), Nik Omladic (foot), Balazs Megyeri (shoulder)

Dresden

Suspended: Haris Duljevic, Niklas Kreuzer, Jannik Muller

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Pascal Testroet (knee), Soren Gonther (Achilles), Marvin Schwabe (meniscus)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Greuther Furth were easily beaten 3-0 away at Ingolstadt last Saturday, which has left them languishing in 17^th place in the 2. Bundesliga table. However, their home form is rather different from their away record, having won four and drawn two of their last six on home soil. In fact, 17 of their 20 points have been claimed at home, which gives them the seventh best home record in the league. No one seems to be able to explain what is going on with Furth, but with such a good home form it is reasonable to back them here.

After three defeats in a row, Dresden hit back in style last Sunday when thumping Bochum 2-0 at the DDV-Stadium. After a couple of setbacks here and there, Dynamo have gone back to their style of play, which was absolutely needed. The team have moved up into 12^th, but they are only four points above the drop zone.

Damir Buric’s Furth are fighting for their lives and every 2. Bundesliga point gained from now until the end of the season will be vital in their quest for survival. After beating Dresden in their previous four home matches, I’m predicting Greuther Furth to make it win number five in a row at home.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD – HOME WIN

Greuther Furth have managed to lead at half time in four of their last four home matches while Dresden have failed to be ahead at the break in four of their last five. I think Furth will start this game better and be winning at the break.

HEAD TO HEAD

Greuther Furth have won their last four home games against Dresden, including a narrow 1-0 victory at the Sportpark Ronhof when the pair met in April 2017.

Erzgebirge Aue - FC Ingolstadt 04

Ingolstadt set to continue their upward trend against struggling Aue

TEAM NEWS

Aue have no injury or suspension concerns. The only player not at their disposal is Moise Ngwisani who doesn’t play an important role in their squad.

Ingolstadt have a full squad available.

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Moise Ngwisani (unspecified)

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Aue crashed to their tenth defeat of the season last Friday, losing 4-1 to Nurnberg at the Max Morlock Stadium. Aue are in dismal form having lost their last three in the league and winning just one of their last five on home soil. These are no doubt worrying times for Hannes Drews and he has to deliver results in the upcoming matches – otherwise it could soon be his last game as the team’s head coach.

Ingolstadt sealed a vital and much-needed 3-0 win over lowly Greuther Furth last Saturday. That was Ingolstadt’s first league win in 2018, but it has lifted them up to fourth. They have been showing signs of being real promotion contenders recently, winning five of their past ten league matches. Ingolstadt’s top scorer Sonny Kittel was on the scoreboard again last time out after an eight-match goal drought.

In reality, I can’t see anything other than an Ingolstadt victory here. Stefan Leitl’s men have been playing well of late, so seeing off Aue should be no problem for them. Back Ingolstadt to leave with the three points.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – INGOLSTADT

Ingolstadt should get off the mark first in this match as they have done in three of their last five visits to Aue. This weekend’s hosts have conceded the opener in two of their last three league matches. I think that trend will continue here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Aue have beaten Ingolstadt three times away from home, but at home they are winless in five in the league, drawing three and losing two.

VfL Bochum - SV Darmstadt 98

Bochum vs Darmstadt

Six-Pointer to end in home win for Bochum

TEAM NEWS

Bochum’s Timo Perthel is absent due to injury, but the team have no suspension concerns.

Darmstadt have a fully fit squad at their disposal.

Bochum

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Timo Perthel (knee)

Darmstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

After a shock 2-0 loss on the road at Dresden last Sunday, Bochum are now on a four-match losing streak and have only managed a 1-0 win over Regensburg in their last five league games. They are sitting only two places and one point above Darmstadt, who occupy the relegation playoff spot. This means that relegation remains a possibility and this match against another candidate for the drop will be very important for them.

Despite a slight upswing in fortunes of late, Darmstadt head to the Vonovia Ruhr Stadium having lost 2-1 at home against Duisburg last time out. It was a tight fixture with both teams level until five minutes from time. However, the team had claimed four points in the previous two fixtures.

Darmstadt’s trip to Bochum on Friday should be a tough one. Both teams are really under pressure and this is a six-pointer for the two of them. For me, this game is very hard to predict, but considering all these criteria I think a draw is the most likely choice here.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD – DRAW

Bochum haven’t scored a first-half goal in their last four league games while Darmstadt have notched only two in their last seven. I can envisage a low-scoring first half this Friday too. Both teams are under pressure and safety first is key here. I predict a scoreless first 45 minutes.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have met only three times competitively at Bochum since 1979, with the hosts winning one, drawing one and losing one.

1.FC Kaiserslautern - Holstein Kiel

Kaiserslautern vs Holstein Kiel

Holstein Kiel to register first win in three months

TEAM NEWS

Kaiserslautern have five players on their injury list as Kacper Przybylko, Patrick Salata, Giuliano Modica, Daniel Halfar and Mads Albaek are all absent.

Holstein Kiel will have to do without the long-term injured Christopher Lenz, Arne Sicker and Manuel Janzer.

Kaiserslautern

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kacper Przybylko (foot), Mads Albaek (pubis); Patrick Salata, Giuliano Modica (both knee); Daniel Halfar (hip)

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christopher Lenz (adductor), Manuel Janzer (Achilles), Arne Sicker (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Kaiserslautern produced one of the surprise results last weekend as they beat Braunschweig 2-1 away from home. They put up a 4-2-3-1 formation and did well to frustrate their opponents, with Lukas Spalvis scoring a brace within the first 34 minutes. Michael Frontzeck’s men had been in very poor form before that latest win, with two draws and three defeats in the last six matches. Nevertheless, that victory should give them a confidence boost ahead of the upcoming matches. The team still sit at the bottom of the table and are eight points from safety. They are desperate for points.

Holstein Kiel have been very hard to beat under Markus Anfang this season and they make the trip to bottom side Kaiserslautern having lost only one of their past 14 league matches. However, they haven’t won since early November either. The Storks registered their fourth consecutive draw at the Holstein Stadium against high-flying Regensburg last Saturday afternoon, with the game ending 1-1. They now have a great opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Holstein Kiel are in a position to close the gap on second-placed Nurnberg to just one point if they can claim a vital victory here. This has the potential to go either way, but I believe the visitors can nick the three points. I’m backing a Holstein Kiel win.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – TWO

Three of Kaiserslautern’s last four home matches finished with exactly two total goals as did Holstein Kiel’s most recent league outing. The visitors have also scored exactly two on average away from home this season. The statistics indicate that we may see two total goals again here. 

HEAD TO HEAD

Kaiserslautern have never hosted Holstein Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga. However, Kiel won 2-1 at home earlier this season in their most recent meeting in September.

FC St. Pauli - VfL Bochum

St. Pauli to claim second home win of the season

TEAM NEWS

St. Pauli will be without the long-term injured Ryo Miyaichi, Marc Hornschuh, Christopher Buchtmann, Mats Moller-Deahli and Philipp Ziereis as well as the suspended Aziz Bouhaddouz.

Bochum’s Timo Perthel and Manuel Riemann are both absent with injuries.

St. Pauli

Suspended: Aziz Bouhaddouz

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ryo Miyaichi (knee), Philipp Ziereis (muscle), Marc Hornschuh (back), Christopher Buchtmann, Mats Moller-Daehli (both unspecified)

Bochum

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Timo Perthel (knee), Manuel Riemann (adductor)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

St. Pauli were involved in an exciting 2-2 home draw against Duisburg in round 17. It was their fourth draw in a row at home and sixth draw of the season. However, their home form is below average and they have only been able to claim one win out of eight matches. This is simply not good enough for a team with such high expectations. Despite having changed their coach, their results remain unchanged and it means the whole team have a lot of work to do if they want to see better days. However, they are bound to bounce back at some point and this is even more likely at their own stadium where they have great support from their fans and are unbeaten in their last four 2. Bundesliga matches.

Bochum have not been playing at their best, but recent results back them up. Following their 1-0 win at Regensburg last Saturday, they have kept three clean sheets in the last six league outings; however, they have registered two wins and four draws in those matches. Nevertheless, they have struggled in attack this season, with only 17 goals scored in 17 games. Their defence looks better with only 19 conceded and has played an important part in claiming those positive results of late.

I think home advantage will count here and expect St. Pauli to clinch the three points.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – TWO

Three of the last five meetings between these teams have seen exactly two goals and with both teams‘ attacks experiencing problems against strong defensive lines, I predict a low-scoring match here too, with two goals in total.

HEAD TO HEAD

In the last 13 league games between the two, St. Pauli have claimed six wins, while Bochum have recorded two.

Erzgebirge Aue - FC Heidenheim

Aue to extend their unbeaten run

TEAM NEWS

Aue are without long-term absentee Nicky Adler.

Heidenheim will be without the injured Marnon Busch, Tim Skarke and Sebastian Griesbeck but have an otherwise full squad available.

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nicky Adler (adductor)

Heidenheim

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marnon Busch, Sebastian Griebeck (both unspecified); Tim Skarke (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Aue managed to arrest their negative run of five winless games by securing a positive result against Darmstadt at home last weekend. Their 1-0 win was very important against a team who – like them – are working hard to move away from the relegation zone. Aue’s positive result last time out is likely to have given them a boost ahead of their last match of the year before the winter break. I expect them to try and build on that victory in a bid to register their seventh this season.

Heidenheim’s five-game unbeaten run came to an unexpected end last Saturday as they lost a close game against bottom side Furth 1-0. The team struggled to find the same goalscoring form as in their last five matches, when they netted 11 overall, and they were unlucky not to find the back of the net. Coach Frank Schmid has to look for solutions as this game against Aue presents the perfect opportunity to move further up the table and to leapfrog their rivals who are only one point above them.

This is very hard to predict as a close game should be expected, but Aue’s recent home form should give them an advantage when it comes to securing the three points. Home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – AUE

Aue have got off the mark first in both of their only two home encounters against Heidenheim in the 2. Bundesliga. Furthermore, they have been the first team to score in their last four home matches in the current campaign. They should be the first to find the net here again.

HEAD TO HEAD

Aue have hosted Heidenheim only twice in the 2. Bundesliga, with both meetings close games. One of them was a 2-1 win for the side earlier in 2012 while the other one was drawn 1-1 in 2014.

Jahn Regensburg - Arminia Bielefeld

A Bielefeld win seems likely

TEAM NEWS

Regensburg will not have Andreas Geipl at their disposal.

Bielefeld’s Florian Dick will be out with a calf problem while Nils Quaschner is set to miss this game with a knee injury and Andraz Sporar is absent with tooth problems.

Regensburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Andreas Geipl (knee)

Bielefeld

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Florian Dick (calf), Nils Quaschner (knee), Andraz Sporar (tooth)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Regensburg were unlucky in their last league outing as they lost 1-0 at home to Bochum, with the winning goal arriving after only eight minutes. Their attack wasn’t up to scratch and although the team performed well overall, they ran out of ideas when it came to penetrating Bochum’s defensive line. The defeat means that their five-match streak of four wins and one draw has ended.

Bielefeld must have been one of the unluckiest teams in the week 17 as they fully deserved a better outcome in their match against Sandhausen, but they ultimately fell 3-1. However, last weekend’s results aside, there are several things that need to be considered here. Bielefeld have a more experienced squad than the hosts and they have proven that they can compete with anyone in the league. In their last five road matches they have won two, drawn one and lost two.

Bielefeld should be able to hold Regensburg down with their fast counter-attacks. Away win.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – THREE

This encounter should produce goals with both teams being proficient up front as Regensburg have scored ten in their last five league matches while Bielefeld have netted 11 in the last five. For this reason, I expect the goals to flow and with Regensburg and Bielefeld’s last five averaging three and 3.40 respectively in total, I predict three here too.

HEAD TO HEAD

Regensburg have hosted Bielefeld only once in the 2. Bundesliga when they lost 2-1 in 2003. The teams last met in July this year, with Bielefeld claiming a home win by the same scoreline.

1.FC Kaiserslautern - 1.FC Nürnberg

Nurnberg to continue their winning streak

TEAM NEWS

Kaiserslautern have three players on their injury list as Kacper Przybylko, Osayamen Osawe and Mads Albaek are all absent while both David Tomic and Benjamin Kessel are suspended.

Nurnberg’s key players Enis Alushi and Sebastian Kerk will miss out with long-term injuries while Dennis Lippert is out with a knee problem, but he does not play an essential role at the club.

Kaiserslautern

Suspended: David Tomic, Benjamin Kessel

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kacper Przybylko (foot), Mads Albaek (pubis), Osayamen Osawe (toe)

Nurnberg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Sebastian Kerk (hamstring); Enis Alushi, Dennis Lippert (both knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Kaiserslautern are finding life in the second tier difficult and, after 17 round, they have still not found a way into the games. They have registered the worst season in their club’s history, with ten defeats, five draws and only two wins. The team have so far been unable to make use of their potential on the pitch and are limited in front of goal with only 13 goals scored. Although they managed a 1-1 draw at home against fifth-placed Ingolstadt last Sunday, the team are still at the bottom of the table and at ten points from safety, their situation seems hopeless. Like so many others, this is a must-win game for them if they want to have a chance to avoid relegation in 2018.

Nurnberg claimed an impressive 2-0 victory away from home against Dusseldorf last time out, with winger Tobias Werner and central back Georg Margreitter scoring the goals. The ‘Club’ remain in the league while they boast the second best goal difference at +13. They have scored at least one goal in each of their last five league games. With a fourth win in a row here, they could move into first place before the winter break as they are currently trailing leaders Holstein Kiel by only one point. For this reason they are expected to invest a lot in this game to secure the best possible position.

I think Nurnberg’s superb away record of just two defeats and six wins in eight should be enough to see them through here, while Kaiserslautern’s bad run looks set to continue. This should be an away win.

SECOND PREDICTION: CORRECT SCORE – 1-2

Having netted eight in the last four games, Nurnberg’s heavy goal count should be enough to hand them another away win while Kaiserslautern have scored three in their previous three games and should be able to find a consolation strike. I predict a 2-1 win for the visitors.

HEAD TO HEAD

There have been 24 meetings between these teams at Kaiserslautern, with the hosts registering 20 wins, three draws and eight defeats.

Einer. Braunschweig - Fortuna Düsseldorf

Home team to win the derby

TEAM NEWS

Braunschweig’s key strikers Domi Kumbela and Christoffer Nyman are out injured while Mirko Boland and Joseph Baffo have suffered knee injuries and are unavailable too.

Dusseldorf will be without first ‘keeper Michael Rensing again as he has broken his ribs, but the club have no further injury concerns.

Braunschweig

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Mirko Boland, Joseph Baffo (both knee); Domi Kumbela (unspecified), Christoffer Nyman (pulled muscle)

Dusseldorf

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Michael Rensing (broken rib)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Braunschweig claimed a deserved 0-0 draw at home in last weekend’s standout match against leaders Holstein Kiel. Although they didn’t manage to extend their winning sequence to two games and have recorded their tenth draw – a league record – they were happy with this result as it means that they are capable of competing with the strongest clubs in the 2. Bundesliga. However, their inability to convert draws into wins has left them sitting in 11^th place with four wins and three defeats out of 17 matches.

Dusseldorf have been inconsistent at best lately, having recorded two draws and three defeats in their last five, and they need to bounce back from their latest disappointing defeat to avoid losing sight of the top as they are trailing leaders Holstein Kiel by two points. The team, who are now in third place on 31 points, lost 2-0 at home against second-placed Nurnberg on Monday, with both goals arriving in the final 25 minutes of the game. Dusseldorf haven’t won in their last three road games in the league, with two draws and one defeat.

I can see no end to Dusseldorf’s current bad run and even a visit to Braunschweig is looking beyond them at the moment, while the best they can hope for is to escape with a draw. However, I do think the hosts will edge this and predict a home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – BRAUNSCHWEIG

Braunschweig should get off the mark first after opening the scoring in three of their last four home games against Dusseldorf. The team have a +3 goal difference from their nine matches played at their own stadium this term and I think they will start fast and net the opener here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Braunschweig’s recent home record against Dusseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga consists of two wins, one draw and one defeat, with the team scoring five and conceding five goals.