FC Ingolstadt 04 - FC St. Pauli

Ingolstadt to close the gap to play off place three with a win here.

TEAM NEWS

Ingolstadt have a full squad available but they have Marcel Gaus sidelined with suspension.

St. Pauli’s Ryo Miyaichi, Marc Hornschuh, Enver Cenk Sahin and Christopher Buchtmann are still absent but are all working on their comeback.

Ingolstadt

Suspended: Marcel Gaus

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ryo Miyaichi (knee), Marc Hornschuh (back), Christopher Buchtmann (pubis), Enver Cenk Sahin (thigh)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Ingolstadt produced a dominant performance on the road to Aue last time out, but they were unable to follow up their 3-0 home victory over Greuther Furth with another success, with the game ending 0-0. Stefan Leitl’s Ingolstadt have been rampaging their way up the 2.Bundesliga table lately. The “Schanzer” have won five, drawn four and lost two in the last eleven league matches to move within three points of the play off place. The “Schanzer” are also unbeaten in their last two home in the 2.Bundesliga, each with keeping a clean sheet.

St. Pauli have been in patchy form in recent weeks. After two straight wins, the Club from Hamburg go into this one having lost two and drawn one of the last three league matches. Having earned a hard-fought 0-0 against in-form side Nurnberg at home on Monday. Nonetheless, sitting in 11th on 28 points, St. Pauli are just five points away from the drop zone and have to look for points in here.

 Ingolstadt have been very strong at home of last, winning three, drawing one and losing one of their last six in the 2.Bundesliga at “Audi Sportpark”. Having drawn the last league game on the road, I’m backing Ingolstadt to hit back with a win on Saturday.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE - INGOLSTADT

The home team should get off the mark early with Sonny Kittel most likely to score. Ingolstadt scored first in three of the last four matches with St. Pauli and I expect this continue here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Back in September, Ingolstadt thumped St. Pauli 4-0 at Millerntor Stadium. However, St. Pauli have an even record at Ingolstadt with two wins, one draw and two defeats.