Greuther Fürth - SV Sandhausen

Greuther Furth continue good home run

TEAM NEWS

Greuther Furth have signed Julian Green from Stuttgart, Mario Maloca from Lechia in Poland, Maximilian Sauer from Braunschweig and David Atanga from Austrian outfit Salzburg, amongst others. A lot of players have left the club with Khaled Narey, Mathis Bolly, Jurgen Gjasula, Sercan Sararer, Stephen Sama, Tolcay Cigerci, Uffe Bech and Balazs Megyeri the most noteworthy. Marco Caligiuri will miss the opener with a pulled muscle.

Sandhausen have seen no fewer than 13 players leave – including Richard Sukuta-Pasu, Julian-Maurice Derstroff, Manuel Striefler -  and 12 join. Most of them are unknown, but Karim Guede from Freiburg could make his mark here. Kenan Kocak does not have Tim Knipping at his disposal, but he is already working on his comeback.

Greuther Furth

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marco Caligiuri (pulled muscle)

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Tim Knipping (broken foot)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Greuther Furth endured a disappointing 2. Bundesliga campaign, winning just ten games, drawing ten and losing 14, whilst finishing 15^thin the league table with only 40 points. Only a slightly superior goal difference over Aue in the relegation playoff place saved them from the drop into the third tier. Like this weekend's opponents Sandhausen, they struggled to score enough goals, but the arrival of Daniel Keita-Ruel and Julien Green should make their attack a lot more potent. If coach Damir Buric can find the right mix this could be a much more relaxed season for Furth.

Sandhausen were solid but inconsistent last season, eventually finishing in 11^thplace, just three points above the drop zone. Kenan Kocak’s side are one of the relegation candidates this term if they do not find their scoring touch. They must become more clinical as only 35 goals scored in their 34 games last season is too little, with no teams finding the net on fewer occasions. Having not won in their last four league games (two draws, two defeats), Sandhausen will be determined to get off to a winning start, but their pre-season has been mixed with two wins, one draw and one defeat.

Sandhausen are winless in their last seven meetings with Greuther Furth, managing just five draws and two defeats. Greuther Furth should win this one. 

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – GREUTHER FURTH

Greuther Furth have scored the opening goal in four of their last five home league meetings with Sandhausen. Back Greuther Furth to open the scoring this weekend again.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two have only met 11 times in the league, with Greuther Furth beating Sandhausen five times and drawing five whilst losing on only one occasion.