1.FC Kaiserslautern - Erzgebirge Aue

A draw seems very likely

TEAM NEWS

Kaiserslautern have two players on their injury list in the form of Kacper Przybylko and Leon Guware.

Aue are only without long-term absentee Nicky Adler, but they have a suitable replacement for him.

Kaiserslautern

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kacper Przybylko (foot), Leon Guware (ankle)

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nicky Adler (adductor)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

After a fourth defeat in their last six matches, Kaiserslautern remain winless at the bottom of the table. They have not been able to find their scoring boots so far, having netted just three, and are harmless in front of goal. They suffered a 1-0 defeat last time out at Sandhausen, with the hosts scoring the winner in the second half. However, they will also be concerned about their defence, having shipped ten in total, as the team have not produced a clean sheet so far.

After their two recent wins against Nurnberg and Ingolstadt, Aue seemed to be on the right path, but they suffered a crushing 3-0 loss at home against newly-promoted Holstein Kiel on Friday, in what was their worst defeat this season. The team still sit in mid-table, but have a negative goal difference of -3. Their two wins over the last three weeks have been the only victories during this campaign; however, they will see this fixture against lowly Kaiserslautern as a good opportunity to bounce back.

This match is one of the hardest to predict as both are out of form and low on confidence. Aue have been more convincing than Kaiserslautern this season, but their weekend defeat will have set them back. I therefore think a draw should be the best choice here.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – AUE

After starting the campaign with two defeats, Aue’s confidence received a welcome boost with Damir Buric’s appointment as their new coach and the team have been the first to score in three of the last four league matches. With Kaiserslautern conceding the first goal in their last four league matches so far, I can see that trend continuing here.

HEAD TO HEAD

The previous meeting at Betzenberg Stadium between these two resulted in a 0-0 draw. It was the first point Aue managed to claim away from home with all of the other five encounters beforehand being won by Kaiserslautern.