Samstag, 25. November 2017

Holstein Kiel - FC Ingolstadt 04

Top clash in 2. Bundesliga

TEAM NEWS

Holstein Kiel will have to do without the long-term injured Christopher Lenz and Manuel Janzer.

Ingolstadt have a full squad available.

Holstein Kiel

Suspended:

Doubtful: None

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

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Holstein Kiel’s excellent run continues. The team were 2-0 down at Nurnberg last Saturday but managed a great comeback with a very late goal to level the game and keep their seven-match unbeaten run alive. The team found their way back into the game with great morale and team spirit. As a reward, they are now leading the table on 30 points. This is an amazing success for the newly promoted club, but it will be hard for them to defend this position in the upcoming weeks as second-placed Dusseldorf have the same points tally and Union Berlin are trailing by only five points. This match will be the next big test for Holstein, although they have nothing to lose as one of the smallest clubs in the 2. Bundesliga.

Ingolstadt managed to register their fourth league win in a row when beating then-leaders Dusseldorf 1-0 at home. It was an even game during which Alfredo Morales scored the winning goal shortly before the half time. Ingolstadt remain fifth in the 2. Bundesliga, while they have a goal difference of +8. Their latest win aside, they have scored at least two goals in each of the previous five league matches. If they can beat Holstein Kiel then Ingolstadt should be able to close the gap to the top three and return to the battle for promotion.

Both teams are absolutely in-form and I expect a big fight between them. I think we will see a very close game which Ingolstadt will win in the end.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – FOUR

I expect goals for both teams and it is just a case of how many. Holstein Kiel and Ingolstadt were free-scoring in the last matches – therefore both need to be at their very best defensively in order to keep the goal count down. Three of Ingolstadt’s last five away games have seen exactly four goals in total and with Holstein Kiel’s matches averaging 3.71 this term, I think another four goals are on the cards here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two will meet for the first time in the 2. Bundesliga.

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