Dynamo Dresden - MSV Duisburg

Strong hosts face newly-promoted team from Duisburg

TEAM NEWS

Dresden have lost three important key players in the form of Marvin Stefaniak, Akaki Gogia and Stefan Kutschke. It will be hard to replace them as only new arrivals Soren Gonther (St. Pauli) and Rico Benatelli (Wurzburg) have the same level of experience and are available immediately. The other arrivals are only squad players like midfielder Patrick Moschl (Ried), midfielder Sascha Horvath (Sturm Graz) and forward Rosner (Grossaspach).

Duisburg are placing their trust in their successful team from last season. They have been quiet on the transfer market and there will only be a small number of new players to strengthen the team, including goalkeeper Daniel Davari (Bielefeld), defender Gerrit Nauber (Lotte), midfielder Lukas Frode (Wurzburg), midfielder Cauly Oliveira Souza (Wurzburg), forward Borys Tashchy (Stuttgart) and midfielder Moritz Stoppelkamp (Paderborn).

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Soren Gonther (unspecified)

Injured/unavailable: Aias Aosman (thigh), Niklas Hauptmann (groin), Florian Ballas (ankle)

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Branimir Bajic (unspecified)

Injured/unavailable: Tim Albutat (ankle), Zlatko Janjic (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Dresden are known for their home fortress and their support is absolutely great. It is not always easy to play there as their fans make a lot of noise and if the team are rolling they are very hard to stop while they can overcome their opponents easily. For newly-promoted Duisburg, this is by no means an ideal start to the new season, but Dresden have a lot of absentees and must find the right mix of players for this game.

Duisburg are back in 2.Bundesliga after just one year in the third tier and they want to do a better job than two years ago. They have been working very hard at all fronts, with coach Iliya Gruev having to find solutions to get more power into the attack as they were far too ineffective up front last season. The coach stands for compactness and discipline and is adamant that he wants to see both from his team. If they can hold this game even and hold their nerves in this noisy stadium they should be able to get something out of this game.

It is always hard to start the campaign with a home game against a newly-promoted team – and especially when you have several injury worries to deal with. I think this puts Duisburg in a very good position and a win over Dresden might be the surprise of the weekend in my eyes. Away win – but only if you dare.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH (OVER 2.5 GOALS)

This is bound to be a tough encounter and the newcomers should be motivated, but Dresden’s home crowd might push their team all the way. I’ll go with over 2.5 goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

Dresden’s all-time home record against Duisburg is three wins, two draws and two defeats, with nine goals for and six against.

1.FC Heidenheim - Erzgebirge Aue

Heidenheim eager to overcome Aue and use their home advantage

TEAM NEWS

Heidenheim will have all their key players available for this season again, but they have strengthened the team with several players who will act as replacements if the first XI succumb to injury: Goalkeeper Matthias Kobbing (Hoffenheim), defender Marnon Busch (Werder Bremen), midfielder Kolja Pusch (Jahn Regensburg), midfielder Maximilian Thiel (Union Berlin), forward Nikola Dovedan (Altach) and forward Robert Glatzel (Kaiserslautern) have all joined the club.

Aue were one of the newly-promoted teams last season and their main aim will be to avoid the drop to the third tier once again. Two important players have left the club, but Aue have brought in several replacements, with new signings including defender Nicolai Rapp (Hoffenheim), defender Malcolm Cacutalua (Bielefeld), midfielder Tobias Kempe (Karlsruher SC), defender Moise Ngwisani (Bochum), midfielder Dominik Wydra (Bochum), midfielder John-Patrick Strauss (RB Leipzig), midfielder Arianit Ferati (Hamburg) and Michael Maria (Grossaspach).

Heidenheim

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Denis Thomalla (illness)

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nicky Adler (groin)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Heidenheim were underestimated by most of their opponents last season and they ended up in an impressive sixth position. However, they are now a lot better known and the other clubs will be aware of how to approach them. This could become a problem – especially if Heidenheim start the season as badly as they ended the last, and this campaign might be a lot harder for them as a result. However, if coach Frank Schmidt excels at his decision-making in the same way as he did last season, then the team have the potential to end up in a safe place in the middle of the table.

Aue’s team spirit and willingness to fight saved the club last season, but more than anything else, they will need to improve up front this time round. The team are in desperate need of more goals if they do not want to get into trouble from the start. However, they have no real goalgetter, but with Pascal Kopke, Dimitrij Nazarov, Adrianit Ferati and Mario Kvesic there are some good and quality strikers in the squad. Nevertheless, the team tend to waste too many of their chances, but if they can solve this problem, then they might be able to play in 2.Bundesliga again next season.

Heidenheim had a quiet and good pre-season and they worked hard to improve their style of play from last season. However, Aue are not in the best situation after losing their head coach and are therefore ill-prepared, having to adjust to a new coach and his playing style. I therefore think that Heidenheim will leave the pitch victorious.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH (OVER 2.5 GOALS)

Both teams have met each other twice so far in 2.Bundesliga, with one game seeing more and one game under 2.5 goals. However, I expect an open game here, with both teams looking for goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

Heidenheim’s overall home record against Aue is one win and two draws, with the team having scored three and conceded two goals.

Holstein Kiel - SV Sandhausen

Newcomers set to start season well

TEAM NEWS

Holstein Kiel’s core squad is almost the same as last season while the club have strengthened their team with some experienced and talented players, including goalkeeper Lukas Kruse (Paderborn), defender David Kinsombi (Karlsruher SC), defender Christopher Lenz (Union Berlin), midfielder Sebastian Heidinger (Paderborn), midfielder Atakan Karazor (Dortmund), midfielder Konde (Wolfsburg II), forward Ilir Azemi (Greuther Furth) and forward Marvin Ducksch (St. Pauli).

Sandhausen will be pleased that they can count on all their key players this season again, although they tried to strengthen the squad by adding goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen (Rostock), defender Marcel Seegert (Mannheim), defender Ken Gipson (RB Leipzig), midfielder Eroll Zejnullahu (Union Berlin), midfielder Nejmeddin Daghfous (Wurzburg), midfielder Mirco Born (Meppen), midfielder Robert Herrmann (Wolfsburg II) and forward Ali Ibrahimaj (Mannheim) to their ranks.

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Luca Durholtz (illness), Atakan Karazor (ankle)

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Jose Pierre Vunguidica, Mirco Born, Rick Wulle (all knee); Robert Herrmann (broken foot), Maximilian Jansen (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

This is the beginning of a new era for Holstein Kiel. After several years of trying they have managed to return to 2.Bundesliga and will want to do their best in order to be competitive in this league. If their squad remains relatively injury free, then they should find their place in Germany’s second tier despite having the second lowest budget after Jahn Regensburg. One of their strengths is their defence, with only 25 goals conceded in 38 matches last season, but the team will have to have a serious look at their goalscoring.

Sandhausen should be able to get off to a good start to the new campaign as they have the same starting XI available as last season. The players will know each other and be familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses – something that could give the club an advantage over their opponents and could provide a welcome boost. Sandhausen are known for their compact style of play, which doesn’t tend to be popular amongst their opponents. 

Both teams are known for their fighting spirit and this could be an exciting game. However, it will be Kiel’s first 2.Bundesliga match while Sandhausen have more experience in this tier and know how to win this kind of games. Coupled with the fact that they played well in their friendlies and are in form already, I expect Sandhausen to start the season as well as they started last year’s and grab all three points here.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW (UNDER 2.5 GOALS)

Both teams are not proficient by any means when it comes to goals and Holstein Kiel had one of the best defences last season, which makes me want to opt for a bet on under 2.5 goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

These teams will meet for the first time in 2.Bundesliga.

1.FC Nürnberg - 1.FC Kaiserslautern

Two traditional clubs aiming for a better season

TEAM NEWS

Nurnberg icon Raphael Schafer has retired, but in Thorsten Kirschbaum and Fabian Bredlow (Hallescher FC) the club should have two good goalkeepers. The team’s defence has also seen several departures, but there have been replacements in the form of defender Ewerton (Sporting), defender Lukas Jager (Altach) and defender Enrico Valentini (Karlsruher SC) while the midfield has seen an improvement through Enis Alushi’s return from loan and Sebastian Kerk’s return to the club. Lucas Hufnagel (Freiburg) and Alexander Fuchs (1860 Munich) will add pace while Nurnberg will hope for more goals after welcoming Adam Zrelak (Jablonec) to the club.

Unsurprisingly a lot of changes have been made to Kaiserslautern’s squad, with many players leaving and joining the club. New signings include goalkeeper Marius Muller (RB Leipzig), defender Marcel Correia (Braunschweig), defender Giuliano Modica (Dresden), defender Guawara (Werder Bremen), defender Benjamin Kessel (Union Berlin), midfielder Mads Albaek (Goteborg), midfielder Gino Fechner (RB Leipzig), midfielder Baris Atik (Hoffenheim), midfielder Gervane Kastaneer (Den Haag), midfielder Lukas Spalvis (Sporting) and forward Brandon Borello (Brisbane).

Nurnberg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Lukas Muhl, Dennis Lippert (both knee)

Kaiserslautern

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kacper Przybylko (foot)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Disappointed with their league position last season – the team ended the campaign in 12^th – Nurnberg will field an almost new line-up here. Pre-season was not bad and there will be the expectation that the club should perform better this time round. A mixture of young, talented and experienced players will be of benefit to the squad, but if they play too offensively it can be a problem for their defensive work and coach Michael Kollner has to find the right balance.

Kaiserslautern too experienced a disappointing season and they will have to start from scratch after seeing a lot of changes in their squad and coaching staff. They will have to build a new strong squad and will hope that their new players will add more quality and strength in order to finish this season more positively and in a higher position than 13^th. However, their biggest problem is their attack which scored a poor 29 goals during the last campaign.

I think this will be a very close game, but Nurnberg have home advantage and great supporters who will cheer them on towards three points. Kaiserslautern are not yet ready, with some new players having arrived late and needing time to gel. Expect a home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW (UNDER 2.5 GOALS)

Although 18 of Nurnberg’s home matches against Kaiserslautern ended with three goals or more, compared to 13 with fewer than three goals, I don’t think we will see a lot of goals in this opener and I’ll go with under 2.5 here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Nurnberg’s all-time home record against Kaiserslautern is 15 wins, seven draws and nine defeats, with 47 goals for and 48 goals against.

Arminia Bielefeld - Jahn Regensburg

Important first encounter for both

TEAM NEWS

Bielefeld‘s squad has undergone several changes with several players not receiving a new contract. New arrivals include goalkeeper Stefan Ortega (1860 Munich), defender Nils Teixeira (Dresden), midfielder Konstantin Kerschbaumer (Brentford), midfielder Patrick Weihrauch (Wurzburg), forward Andraz Sporar (Basel) and forward Nils Quaschner (RB Leipzig).

Newly-promoted Jahn Regensburg have lost two key players from their successful team last season as midfielder Erik Thommy returned to Augsburg while midfielder Kolja Pusch is back with Heidenheim. They have signed several new players, but none of them have experience at playing in 2.Bundesliga. With midfielder Sebastian Stolze (Wolfsburg), forward Jonas Nietfeld (Zwickau), defender Benedikt Gimber (Hoffenheim), defender Asger Sorensen (RB Salzburg), midfielder Albion Vrenezi (Augsburg), forward Patrick Dzalto (Leverkusen) and forward Joshua Mees (1899 Hoffenheim) they have a squad full of young and talented players.

Bielefeld

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Soren Brandy (thigh)

Injured/unavailable: Christopher Nothe (knee)

Jahn Regensburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: OIiver Hein (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Bielefeld will be hoping for a much better start than last season and therefore for a campaign without any trouble. Overall they should not change much with regard to their starting XI and it means they will have a team available that need no time to gel. Coach Jeff Saibene knows his men very well and might include new arrival Konstantin Kerschbaumer in the line-up.

Newly-promoted Jahn Regensburg have the lowest budget of the 18 clubs and they must work hard if they do not want to be relegated after just one season – something that happened to them not too long ago. However, their new and beautiful stadium should push them additionally this time round while there is also a new coach in charge in Achim Beierlorzer after Heiko Herrlich left for Leverkusen before the beginning of the season. Beierlorzer was U-23 coach at RB Leipzig and knowing how to work with young players, he will put a lot of emphasis on forming a well-balanced and operating team. However, the club’s main aim will be to avoid relegation this season.

I don’t expect to see a great game here, with both teams looking to defend, and this could mean a goalless draw.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW (UNDER 2.5 GOALS)

These teams have not met in Germany’s second tier since March 2004 when they played each other in Bielefeld. It was an uneventful and scoreless draw. Both teams will be focussing on safety first in their first match and I predict under 2.5 goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

Bielefeld have hosted Jahn Regensburg just three time, with all matches ending in draws.

SV Darmstadt 98 - Greuther Fürth

Relegated Darmstadt host a traditional 2.Bundesliga club

TEAM NEWS

Darmstadt have lost several important players in the form of Michael Esser, Marcel Heller, Mario Vrancic, Felix Platte, Jerome Gondorf and Hamit Altintop, but they were able to get some quality back into their squad with goalkeeper Joel Mall (Grasshoppers), midfielder Kevin Großkreutz (Stuttgart), midfielder Tobia Kempe (Nurnberg), midfielder Yannick Stark (FSV Frankfurt), forward Artur Sobiech (Hannover), midfielder Romuald Lacazette (1860 Munchen), midfielder Marvin Mehlem (Karlsruher SC) and forward McKinze Gaines (U-19 Wolfsburg).

Greuther Furth have seen Robert Zulj and Marcel Franke depart and have tried to compensate for the loss of their two important players by signing midfielder Nik Omladic (Braunschweig), defender Maximilian Wittek (1860 Munchen), forward Philipp Hofmann (Brentford), midfielder Manuel Torres (Karlsruher SC) and goalkeeper Timo Konigsmann (Hannover).

Darmstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Patrick Banggaard (illness), Jan Rosenthal (knee)

Greuther Furth

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Maximilian Wittek (thigh)

Injured/unavailable: Richard Magyar (ankle), Sercan Sararer (groin), Philipp Hofmann (ligaments), Mathis Bolly (muscle)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

After one of the worst seasons in the club’s history Darmstadt are looking forward to better times and they are working hard to get a good squad together. However, it looks like that they have done their homework and they are more competitive this season. Coach Torsten Frings has done a good job and has the trust of all his players. He has a lot of options in all positions and this makes Darmstadt very unpredictable this season.

Greuther Furth on the other hand have added pace to their squad, which was evident in their pre-season friendlies. They are much more variable than last season and can use different systems, if needed. The only problem at the moment is their defence and they are a bit short of options as Richard Magyar is out, with midfielder Adam Pinter a candidate for the open position in central back, but it is far from ideal.

Furth suffer from too many problems defensively and that will make it difficult for them to beat Darmstadt. The hosts are better prepared than in previous seasons and should get the campaign off to a good start by clinching three points.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH (OVER 2.5 GOALS)

The statistics have been very even in Darmstadt’s last eight home matches, with four of the games ending with more than and four fewer than 2.5 goals. However, I expect both teams to push from the beginning and expect at least three goals here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Darmstadt’s all-time home record against Greuther Furth is five wins, one draw and two defeats, with 12 goals for and seven goals against.

FC Ingolstadt 04 - Union Berlin

Relegated Ingolstadt host one of the top teams

TEAM NEWS

After their relegation from Germany’s top flight last season, Ingolstadt will aim for promotion and have set themselves the target of a return to the Bundesliga within the next two years. They have lost important players in the form of Pascal Gross, Markus Suttner, Roger and Matthew Leckie, but despite receiving around €11 million in total for these players, they haven’t invested much. Only €1.2 million have been spent on forward Stefan Kutschke (Dresden) while all the other new recruits arrived on free transfers, including midfielder Marcel Gaus (Kaiserslautern), midfielder Tobias Schrock (Wurzburg), midfielder Thomas Pledl (Sandhausen), defender Hauke Wahl (Heidenheim), defender Phil Neumann (Schalke 04), forward Gianluca Rizzo (Monchengladbach) and forward Antonio Colak (Darmstadt).

Although Union Berlin have seen 11 players depart during the transfer window, their squad hasn’t been better for years. Overall they have lost only one regular in Roberto Puncec while the squad’s quality and strength have improved considerably after the club signed midfielder Akaki Gogia (Dresden), midfielder Marcel Hartel (1.FC Cologne), defender Marc Torrejon (Freiburg), midfielder Grischa Promel (Karlsruhuer SC), defender Christoph Schosswendter (Rapid Vienna) and defender Peter Kurzweg (Wurzburg).

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Max Christiansen (thigh), Moritz Hartmann (muscle)

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Stephan Furstner (ankle)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Despite losing their top-flight status last season, Ingolstadt have only three new players in their starting line-up and that should help them to get off to a good start. Tobias Schrock, Thomas Pledl and Stefan Kutschke should provide quality after the club have lost key players, but in my opinion, this is one of the best squads if the quality of the names is anything to go by. Ingolstadt’s defensc should be very strong and up front they must try to score more goals than last season when they only netted 36. I predict a top 4 finish for the team.

Union Berlin are coming off the best season in their history after finishing fourth – but they want more, with everyone in and around the club dreaming of promotion after nearly achieving their target last season. They may have the best squad in their history, but this does not make it any easier as the pressure is high. If coach Jens Keller proves that he can continue where he left off last season, then they are top candidates for promotion.

I expect a tight game between these two promotion candidates and they would both be happy with a draw to begin the season.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW (UNDER 2.5 GOALS)

Three of the last five meetings between these clubs at Ingolstadt saw more than three goals, but the teams are very even in my eyes and should cancel each other out. I predict under 2.5 goals here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Ingolstadt’s all-time record against Union Berlin consists of two wins, two draws and one defeat at home, with the team scoring nine goals and conceding eight.

VfL Bochum - FC St. Pauli

Season opener between two traditional clubs

TEAM NEWS

17 days before the start of the season, Bochum fired Gertjan Verbeek and decided to place their trust in a coach with no 2.Bundesliga experience instead. With Ismail Atalan from 3.Bundesliga outfit Sportfreunde Lotte on the sidelines, they are aiming big this season. The squad was given fresh blood, above all in attack with striker Lukas Hinterseer (Ingolstadt), striker Dimitrios Diamantakos (Karlsruher SC) and midfielder Robbie Kruse (former Leverkusen player). Defender Danilo Soares (Hoffenheim) is likely to play an important role this season too.

St. Pauli will rely on almost the same squad as last season. They have only lost defender Soren Gonther to Dresden while signing forward Sami Allagui (Hertha Berlin), midfielder Mats Moller Daehli (Freiburg), defender Clemens Schoppenhauer (Wurzburg) and defender Luca-Milan Zander (Werder Bremen).

Bochum

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Lukas Hinterseer (knee)

Injured/unavailable: Timo Perthel, Nico Rieble, Vitaly Janelt (all knee)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ryo Miyaichi (knee), Philipp Ziereis (muscle)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Bochum will count on their strong defensive line from last season and they are very hard to beat, especially at home, having suffered just two defeats in 17 games in front of their own fans last season. The club will hope that their new signings in attack will push them to new heights and that their new and young coach Ismail Atalan has what it takes to push this team to the maximum.

St. Pauli are a well-balanced team and with not too many new players in the starting line-up they have maybe some advantage at the beginning of the season. Sami Allagui is the only new player, who is expected to feature here, but he will bring a lot of class to St. Pauli’s style of play and this could act as a boost for the team.

I think Bochum will have what it takes right from the start. There is a great atmosphere in and around the club and their good home record speaks for itself while they will aim to extend this run. St. Pauli are nothing special away from home and I expect the hosts to edge it.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH (OVER 2.5 GOALS)

Most of the last 13 competitive meetings at Bochum have seen a lot of goals, with eight of them producing three or more. Although it is the opener, I think this trend will continue and I predict over 2.5 goals here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Bochum’s all-time home record against St. Pauli consists of five wins, six draws and two defeats, with the team scoring 30 and conceding 15 goals.