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.