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.

Union Berlin - FC Ingolstadt 04

Two struggling teams searching for their form

TEAM NEWS

Union Berlin are missing Kenny Prince Redondo, Michael Parensen and Fabian Schonheim due to injury.

Ingolstadt have a full squad available, Coach Stefan Leitl miss only defender Romain Bregerie injured.

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Fabian Schonheim, Kenny Prince Redondo (both knee); Michael Parensen (calf)

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Romain Bregerie (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Coach Andre Hofschneider had a miserable debut at Union Berlin last weekend. His men lost the derby against Dresden 1-0, but despite being on a four-match winless run they are still fourth. The new man in charge already finds himself under pressure and following their latest results, he will need to line up a compact XI who will fight from the beginning to secure a good result against promotion rivals Ingolstadt.

Ingolstadt were lucky enough to find a single goal against bottom-of-the-table Kaiserslautern during their 1-1 away draw last Sunday. Although they were the better side and had more than 60% ball possession they almost ended up with their seventh defeat of the season, which would have put them nine points behind third place. The match against Union Berlin is a very important one and it would be a good opportunity for them to move closer to the top before the winter break.

Neither team have been on their best of form recently and a lot speaks for a draws here. Three of their latest four meetings have also shown the same outcome, so I’ll predict this to end all square.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – INGOLSTADT

Union Berlin have been the first team to concede in all of their last five home matches against Ingolstadt. I think this trend is likely to continue and they should be the first to concede again.

HEAD TO HEAD

Union Berlin have hosted Ingolstadt five times in the 2. Bundesliga over the course of the past seven years, winning once and drawing four times.

Greuther Fürth - FC Heidenheim

Heidenheim to continue their winning streak against Furth

TEAM NEWS

Greuther Furth won’t have Mathis Bolly, Nik Omladic, Balazs Megyeri and Sercan Sararer available for this encounter.

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

Greuther Furth

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

Heidenheim

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Greuther Furth lost 2-0 on the road against Duisburg last Saturday and have still only claimed two points away this term, but at home they are a totally different prospect. Not only have they won their last three consecutive home games and four of their last five, but 12 of their 14 points this season have also arrived from home. It will at least give them some confidence when comes to avoiding relegation as they are still second from bottom and five points from safety. However, Furth’s main problems are their defensive capabilities or rather lack of them as they have conceded 29 goals in the 2. Bundesliga, the joint-highest in the league.

Heidenheim were lucky to find a late winner against bottom-of-the-table Kaiserslautern in their 3-2 home win last Friday. They were average and almost ended up with a draw against ten men. However, they continued their excellent run with four wins and one draw out from the last five league matches. As a result, they have climbed into 11^th spot and are no longer threatened by the drop.

Furth are, of course, been performing a lot better at home, but this weekend they will be facing tough opponents in the form of Heidenheim who have been unbeatable recently. I will put my money on the better in-form team and predict an away win.

SECOND PREDICTION: CORRECT SCORE – 1-2

Having netted nine in the last three games, Heidenheim’s heavy goal count should be enough to hand them another away win while Greuther Furth have scored four in their previous two games and should be able to find a consolation strike. Heidenheim have won all of their last three matches by one-goal margins and it is likely we will see the same again here. I’ll go with a 2-1 win for the visitors.

HEAD TO HEAD

Greuther Furth’s last two home matches against Heidenheim in the league ended in two away wins. However, they were victorious when the teams met last time out, winning 2-0 at Heidenheim in April.

Union Berlin - Dynamo Dresden

Union Berlin set to get back on track

TEAM NEWS

Union Berlin are missing Kenny Prince Redondo, Michael Parensen and Fabian Schonheim due to injury.

Dresden are still without the long-term injured Pascal Testroet while Soren Gonther has problems with his Achilles tendon and will miss out again. Furthermore, Marco Hartmann is unavailable after receiving his fifth yellow card in the last game.

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Fabian Schonheim, Kenny Prince Redondo (both knee); Michael Parensen (calf)

Dresden

Suspended: Marco Hartmann

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Although Union Berlin have been struggling in their last three league matches, they are still in a very good position overall and in the race for promotion. They produced a disappointing performance last time out away at Bochum as although they took the lead early in the game they were not able to hold onto it. Coach Uwe Neuhaus was very disappointed after the game. However, Union are trailing leaders Holstein Kiel by only six points and they will fancy their chances against Dresden this weekend.

Dresden should be good opponents for the hosts in order to get back on track, even though they claimed their second win in seven games against Aue on Sunday, beating them 4-0. Despite sitting in 12^th, they are still close to the drop zone and are only two points ahead of Darmstadt in the relegation playoff place. However, they have a reasonably good goal difference of -1 compared to the other teams in the bottom 8.

Games between these two sides tend to be quite intense. However, Union have been convincing at home recently, recording four wins and three draws in their last seven matches. I think they will continue that run and return to winning ways after their disappointing defeat last time out.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD – HOME WIN

Union Berlin should get off the mark early with Sebastian Polter most likely to score. Union Berlin have a +9 goal difference from seven games played at ‘Alte Forsterei and have been leading at half time in three of their last four home games. This trend should continue here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Union Berlin have hosted Dresden four times in the 2. Bundesliga over the course of the past six years, winning once and drawing three times.

Jahn Regensburg - VfL Bochum

Regensburg to claim fourth home win in a row

TEAM NEWS

Regensburg will not have Sven Kopp at their disposal.

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

Regensburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Sven Kopp (pulled muscle)

Bochum

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Regensburg’s excellent run of four wins and one draw looks likely to be extended with the visit of Bochum. Following their 1-0 win away at Darmstadt last Sunday, they have now kept a clean sheet in their last two league games and are unbeaten in their last three at the Continental Arena, scoring three or more in each. Coach Achim Beierlorzer has found the right balance between defensive and attacking play and the team have been doing very well to frustrate their opponents recently.

Bochum finally returned to winning ways at home against Union Berlin last Sunday, beating the fourth-placed club 2-1, but they are a team who have been struggling on the road, having recorded only one win in their eight away games. That leaves them in 16^th place in the away form standings, with only bottom teams Kaiserslautern and Greuther Furth having a worse record.

Regensburg are on fire and should get the three points in front of their fans. Home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – REGENSBURG

Regensburg should get off the mark first after opening the scoring in their five most recent league games. The team have a +2 goal difference from their eight matches played at their own stadium and I think they will start fast again and net the opener here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Regensburg have hosted Bochum only once in the 2.Bundesliga, losing 1-0 in 2013. However, they won their away game 2-0 that season.

Erzgebirge Aue - SV Darmstadt 98

Two struggling teams searching for their form

TEAM NEWS

Aue are without long-term absentee Nicky Adler while Nicolai Rapp has received his fifth yellow card and is suspended against Darmstadt.

Peter Niemeyer is the only player on Darmstadt’s injury list.

Aue

Suspended: Nicolai Rapp

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nicky Adler (adductor)

Darmstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Peter Niemeyer (heel)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Aue suffered a crushing 4-0 loss away at Dresden last Sunday, in what was their worst defeat of the season – their second worst arriving via a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Duisburg only three weeks ago. Last weekend’s result has left Aue with just one win in the last eight league games and they are now in 15^th place, with a poor goal difference of -8. The team have only won three times on their own turf this season and they will be looking to secure home win number four here.

Darmstadt have not won in their last ten league games and a journey to Aue will prove a tough test of their credentials. Only one place and one point are separating Torsten Frings’ men from Aue, but their current league position is completely unexpected for a club of their calibre and this may be the last chance for Frings to safe his job as the team are coming off yet another defeat at home against Regensburg last time out, losing 1-0. They also have one of the worst away records in the 2. Bundesliga with just one win, four draws and two defeats, ten goals scored and 13 conceded. This will be a do-or-die game for Darmstadt.

This match is very hard to predict because neither of these teams have excelled recently. I therefore feel that both will be happy with a draw here.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD - DRAW

Both teams are finding themselves at the wrong end of results and will have to improve considerably. They have both been nervous at the start of their games, with Aue scoring only twice and Darmstadt three times before the break in their last eight matches. A draw at half time should be the best choice here too.

HEAD TO HEAD

Aue have hosted Darmstadt only once in the 2.Bundesliga in a narrow game which they lost 1-0 in 2015.

Eintr. Braunschweig - Holstein Kiel

Braunschweig to beat leader Holstein Kiel

TEAM NEWS

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

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

Braunschweig

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Braunschweig produced one of the surprise results of the week on the road to Ingolstadt in week 16. They set up with a 4-2-3-1 formation and did well do frustrate Ingolstadt to gain the win. Torsten Lieberknecht’s men had been in very poor form before that latest win – without winning a single game in the last four league matches. Now, they sit ninth the table and have a positive goal difference of +4. While they still hold the record of the most draws in 2.Bundesliga in 16 matches, standing at 9. There have not been so many positives to talk of for them this season, but that win against in-form Ingolstadt may spark a rejuvenated spirit amongst the camp.

Holstein Kiel travels south to Braunschweig, having an unbeaten run of the last six matches on their travels, while they have conceded at least one goal in each of the last four matches. Holstein Kiel’s form is excellent, having lost none of the last nine league matches and could defend the leading position against Dusseldorf in the last game with a 2-2 draw. The next positive aspect of the statistics for them is that they also have the most goals scored in 2.Bundesliga – creating chances doesn’t seem to be a problem for them, and most of the time they get those chances finished as an average from 2,25 goals / game showed.

Braunschweig in front of their own fans is a different team and most of the opponents will have problems there. Home win.

HEAD TO HEAD

This teams met for the first time in 2.Bundesliga.