Holstein Kiel - Dynamo Dresden

Goals likely to flow as Holstein Kiel post another home win

TEAM NEWS

Holstein Kiel will have to do without the long-term injured Christopher Lenz and Manuel Janzer while Arne Sicker will miss out again with illness. In addition, they have Dominic Peitz unavailable due to suspension after his fifth yellow card against Darmstadt.

Dresden are still without the long-term injured Pascal Testroet and Marco Hartmann while Soren Gonther has problems with his Achilles tendon and will miss out again. Furthermore, the team are without Philipp Heise due to suspension.

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: Dominic Peitz

Doubtful: None

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

Dresden

Suspended: Philip Heise

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Pascal Testroet (knee), Soren Gonther (Achilles), Marco Hartmann (pulled muscle)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Holstein Kiel’s excellent record of eight wins, two draws and just two defeats looks likely to be extended with the visit of Dresden. They have scored at least two goals in five of their six home games, while being undefeated in 15 of their last 16 league matches at home. Holstein Kiel’s second place in the table looks likely to be consolidated here and one of the home team’s most impressive players this season has been the German Marvin Ducksch as the striker has scored nine goals in 12 starts. The team drew 1-1 at Darmstadt last time out.

Following their 1-1 home draw against Braunschweig last weekend, Dresden have only one win from seven games in all competitions and a journey to Kiel will prove a tough test of their credentials. They remain 12^th despite that poor run which is in large part down to a strong run at the beginning of the season when they only lost one of their first six games. They have the ninth best away record in the 2. Bundesliga, with two wins, two draws and two defeats. There are goals in this team as well as creative players and that will give the away side hope.

Dresden are doing much better on the road than in front of their own fans and I therefore think that they can frustrate Holstein Kiel here. Nevertheless, they are playing against an incredible in-form team and I’m siding with a home win here.

SECOND PREDICTION: CORRECT SCORE – 2-1

Holstein Kiel have scored an impressive 29 goals so far this season – the highest in the division and have won two of their last four home games with 2-1 scorelines. Their strong form up front should be enough to hand them another home win here while Dresden have scored once in both of their last two competitive road games. I’ll back another 2-1 win for the hosts here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These teams will meet for the first time in the 2. Bundesliga. They last played each other in the third division in 2015-16, with Dresden recording one win and one draw.