1.FC Nürnberg - FC St. Pauli

Nurnberg to extend good home record

TEAM NEWS

Nurnberg’s key player Sebastian Kerk will miss out with a long-term injury while Dennis Lippert is out with a knee injury, but he does not play an essential role at Nurnberg.

St. Pauli have Bernd Nehrig marked as doubtful and are still without Ryo Miyaichi and Philipp Ziereis, but they have no suspension concerns.

Nurnberg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Sebastian Kerk (hamstring), Dennis Lippert (knee)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Bernd Nehrig (calf)

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Nurnberg’s unbeaten run came to an unexpected end as they were beaten convincingly 3-1 by a very motivated Aue side before the break. The team struggled to find the same goalscoring form as in their last three matches and were clearly overrun. Coach Michael Kollner will have been surprised by his men’s horrible performance and will have been looking for solutions over the international break. He will have to ensure that Nurnberg return to their normal selves quickly. However, Sebastian Kerk’s absence will be a big blow, but the team have signed Tobias Werner from Stuttgart hoping that he can take over in midfield. Nurnberg are still unbeaten at home, with one win and one draw.

After kicking the campaign off with four points in two games, St. Pauli have found goals more difficult to come by recently, having registered just one in their last two matches when beating Heidenheim at home last time out. That result was down to luck, however, with the winner arriving in the 90th minute, and the team have a lot of to work ahead of them if they want to increase their efficiency up front, having netted just four in total so far.

I think Nurnberg will put their recent defeat behind them and return to winning ways against St. Pauli.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST HALF HAD – DRAW

Both teams have found it difficult to find the net in the first half this season, with Nurnberg and St. Pauli only scoring one of their goals within the first 45 minutes. With both sides appearing to be much more clinical in front of goal in the second half, I expect a scoreless draw at half time here.

HEAD TO HEAD

St. Pauli won the last meeting against Nurnberg 2-0 in April, but it was their first win since 2001.  Overall they have not had much success at Nurnberg, losing three and drawing two of the last five matches.