Arminia Bielefeld - FC St. Pauli

Bielefeld to get back to winning ways

TEAM NEWS

Bielefeld are expected to be without midfielder Nils Quaschner, who is still recovering from a knee injury but working on his comeback, while Tom Schutz has problems with his Achilles tendon and will be out for the upcoming weeks. Stefan Ortega is the side's third unavailable player with a pulled muscle.

St. Pauli's Marc Hornschuh, Jan-Philipp Kalla, Waldemar Sobota, Park Yi Young and Luca-Milan Zander are all injured and will not be available against Bielefeld.

Bielefeld

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nils Quaschner (knee), Tom Schutz (Achilles), Stefan Ortega (pulled muscle)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marc Hornschuh (spinal disc), Luca-Milan Zander (ankle), Jan Philipp Kalla (pubis), Waldemar Sobota (pulled muscle), Park Yi Young (not fit)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Bielefeld have been in poor form in recent weeks, with just one win and four defeats on the bounce from their last five in the league. Nothing appears to be working for the side, with their latest loss a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Aue last weekend. As a result, Bielefeld have now dropped down to 14^thin the table, with the North Rhine-Westphalian club sealing just three wins, three draws and five losses from 11 league affairs under Jeff Saibene.

St. Pauli have been on a positive run of late, with five wins from seven league games (along with one draw and one loss) lifting Markus Kauczinski’s side to fifth place. Surprisingly, the team lost their last home league game 1-0 to weak travellers Holstein Kiel despite being the better side throughout the 90 minutes. However, away from home they are on a three-match unbeaten run with two victories and one draw.

Bielefeld have not clinched a point since late September and I expect a reaction from them in this important league encounter against St. Pauli. I think home advantage will be key in this one and take a punt on the home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH

Almost all of Bielefeld’s five home league matches had an entertainment factor, with only one of them featuring fewer than three total goals. I expect goals to be flowing again. 

HEAD TO HEAD

Last season, both league fixtures were won by the respective home team. However, Bielefeld have the edge at Schuco-Arena with five draws and two wins in their last seven home league encounters.