MSV Duisburg - Holstein Kiel

Duisburg aiming for their first home win

TEAM NEWS

Zlatko Janjic and Tim Albutat are still on Duisburg’s list of absentees, but there are no fresh injury worries for Ilija Gruev.

Holstein Kiel will have to do without the long-term injured Christopher Lenz and Manuel Janzer while Arne Sicker will miss again with illness. In addition, they cannot count on Patrick Herrmann who was sent off against St. Pauli towards the end of the game.

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: Patrick Herrmann

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christopher Lenz (adductor), Manuel Janzer (achilles), Arne Sicker (infection)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Duisburg were involved in a very entertaining 2-2 draw away to Ingolstadt in their previous 2. Bundesliga match, with Borys Tashchy scoring twice. Following their second win of the season, they sit in a comfortable mid-table position and don’t have to worry about relegation at the moment. Coach Ilija Gruew was very pleased with his team’s performance last time out. 45% ball possession and five shots on target in their last game on the road are not bad statistics, but at home they are winless in three. They will hope to transfer their positive away form to their next home game.

Holstein Kiel’s excellent unbeaten home run came to an end against St. Pauli when the team lost 1-0. They never found a way into the game. However, despite registering their second loss this season, they are still in a good position with 13 points in fourth place – an astonishing achievement for a newly promoted team after seven matches. They have secured six from a possible nine points on their travels and, having scored 15 so far, there are goals in this team as well as creative players – and that will give the away side hope of bouncing back immediately.

Duisburg showed a different face recently – they are very good on the road but are having problems at home. However, they might be able to take advantage of Holstein Kiel’s midweek disappointment and I think they hosts can get something out of this encounter.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – TWO

Meetings between these two teams don’t tend to produce many goals traditionally. In fact, the last seven competitive encounters have only seen 12 goals in total, or an average of 1.70. I expect this trend to continue and predict a total of two goals here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These teams will meet for the first time in 2. Bundesliga, but met in the third division last year, with Duisburg’s home match ending 0-0 and Holstein Kiel winning 2-0 in front of their own supporters.