SV Sandhausen - 1.FC Nürnberg

Nurnberg to close in on 1. Bundesliga with a win

TEAM NEWS

Sandhausen will be without Tim Kister and Ken Gibson, who are both out due to injury concerns while Manuel Striefler is suspended.

Nurnberg’s key player Sebastian Kerk will continue to miss out while Enis Alushi, Patrick Erras, Alexander Fuchs and Dennis Lippert are all unavailable with injury problems. 

Sandhausen

Suspended: Manuel Striefler

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ken Gibson (calf), Tim Kister (broken foot)

Nurnberg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Sebastian Kerk (hamstring); Enis Alushi, Dennis Lippert, Patrick Erras (all knee); Alexander Fuchs (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Sandhausen will live to fight another day in the 2. Bundesliga despite losing 2-0 to Heidenheim last weekend. Their four-point lead over Greuther Furth in 16^thmeans they have pretty much secured their survival. However, Kenan Kocak’s men will have been disappointed with that latest result as they played very well, accumulating more shots on target. However, although ball possession was almost even they could not find the net. They have won only one of their last nine league matches, losing four and drawing four in the process. 

Nurnberg walked all over Braunschweig in a stunning 2-0 home win last Monday. With just two games left, the club remain in the driving seat for automatic promotion with a five-point lead over third-placed Holstein Kiel. Michael Kollner’s boys have been defying the odds all season, and a win at Hardtwald Stadium will take them to the promised land. 

The incentive is huge for Nurnberg and with them boasting the best away record in the league, I expect them to return home with all three points. Put your money on a Nurnberg victory on Sunday.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN

Both Sandhausen’s and Nurnberg’s last three matches have finished with even total goals. I predict the same outcome in this encounter. 

HEAD TO HEAD

There have been only three league encounters between these teams at Sandhausen, with the hosts winning one and losing two.