Dynamo Dresden - MSV Duisburg

Duisburg to grab a point at DDV Arena this time

TEAM NEWS

Dresden won’t have Tim Boss, Soren Gonther, Marco Hartmann and Florian Balls available as the players are all out with different injuries. The club have been fairly quiet during the transfer window, with their biggest moves Baris Atik from Hoffenheim, Linus Wahlqvist from Sweden's Norrkoping, Patrick Ebert from Ingolstadt and Brian Hamalainen from Belgian side Waregem. Dresden have kept most of their key players from last season, as their only three notable departures have been Niklas Hauptmann, Marcel Franke and Marvin Schwabe.

Duisburg have signed goalkeeper Daniel Mesenholer from Union Berlin as well as two strikers with John Verhoek from Heidenheim and Richard Sukuta-Pasu from Sandhausen.  Mark Flekken has moved to Freiburg and Branimir Bajic has retired. 

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Tim Boss (pulled muscle); Soren Gonther, Marco Hartmann (both knee); Florian Balls (shoulder)

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Dresden worked hard to avoid relegation during last term and accomplished their objective despite remaining winless in their final three games of the season, with two defeats and one draw. Despite their struggles, there was one thing they did do consistently though and that was keeping points on the road, with 22 of their 41 points arriving from their travels. They were the worst home team in the division though, with only five wins, four draws and eight defeats and ended the campaign with three losses and a draw at home .

Duisburg have not seen a lot of transfer activity. They finished seventh in the 2. Bundesliga on 48 points and were one of the top sides during the season, trailing third Holstein Kiel by only eight points. The team lost only one of their last four road trips when receiving a 3-2 beating by relegated Braunschweig, drawing two and winning one, and they were also the fifth best road team overall, scoring 25 and conceding 28 in 17 games.

Both teams still have their main players from last season at their disposal. Duisburg were the much better side when they met last term but were unlucky as they lost their last home game 1-0 in Dresden. This time they will come away with a point at least. I'm predicting a draw.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW 

Dresden’s last four home encounters against Duisburg have seen exactly five total goals oerall – with that in mind I expect a very-low scoring game again. 

HEAD TO HEAD

Duisburg’s 2-0 home victory over Dresden in December was their first win on their own turf in this head-to-head in the last seven years. Overall, they have won two of the last five encounters though, drawing two and losing just one.