MSV Duisburg - FC St. Pauli

Duisburg to claim first home win of the season

TEAM NEWS

Duisburg’s Moritz Stoppelkamp has a thigh issue which will keep him out of this weekend league clash. Meanwhile, Christian Gartner is expected to be out for the remainder of the year.

St. Pauli's Marc Hornschuh, Jan Philipp Kalla and Luca-Milan Zander are all injured and will not be available for the trip to Duisburg.

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christian Gartner (knee), Moritz Stoppelkamp (thigh)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injure d/unavailable: Marc Hornschuh (spinal disc), Luca-Milan Zander (ankle), Jan Philipp Kalla (pubis)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Duisburg have made a poor start to their league campaign, winning only once all season, along with two draws and six losses. However, after losing 3-1 to Jahn Regensburg on home soil, coach Torsten Lieberknecht took over the reins at Duisburg and shocked leaders Cologne in a 2-1 win away from home before the international break. That first win should give their confidence a massive boost here and is much needed given the fact that they have lost all of their home league matches. The team have now moved from the bottom of the league to 16^thplace. 

St. Pauli are currently one of the in-form teams in Germany’s second tier, winning three and drawing one of their last four league games to move up into fifth place in the division. St. Pauli have an even record on the road with two wins, one draw and two defeats, scoring only five along the way. Two weeks ago, Markus Kauczinski’s side scored two late goals in the final five minutes to secure a lucky 3-1 win over Sandhausen at Millerntor. 

Lieberknecht has already had a positive impact on the hosts and I’m backing the Zebras to build on their important win last time out and claim the first home victory of the season this weekend.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW

Four of the last five league meetings between both sides have ended in two or fewer total goals. I can see this one being another low-scoring encounter on Monday.

HEAD TO HEAD

Duisburg took four points form both of their fixtures with St. Pauli last term, winning 2-0 on home soil and drawing 2-2 at Millerntor.