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.