Dynamo Dresden - SV Sandhausen

Dresden to take the spoils on home soil

TEAM NEWS

Dresden coach Maik Walpurgis has to find replacements for the injured Jannik Muller and Florian Ballas. Niklas Kreuzer is also out with an injury to his stomach muscles and the time of his return is unknown. 

Sandhausen’s Tim Knipping, Nejmeddin Daghfous and Ken Gipson are all out with different injuries. 

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Florian Ballas (shoulder), Jannik Muller (foot), Niklas Kreuzer (stomach muscle)

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Tim Knipping (broken foot), Nejmeddin Daghfous (calf), Ken Gipson (shoulder)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

After beating Bochum 1-0 in late September, Dresden have mustered up just three points from their last four league matches in Germany’s second division, drawing 0-0 away at Union Berlin in their most recent league outing. Maik Walpurgis' men have struggled for consistency this season, winning four, drawing three and losing four to this point. Sitting in 11^thplace, they could do with all three points at the DDV Arena this week as a win here could theoretically catapult them as high as sixth in the league table.

16^thplaced Sandhausen will be hoping that their run over the last two league games will kick-start a rise up the table. After losing six, drawing two and winning one of their first nine league matches, they have accumulated a decent four points from a 4-0 home win over Ingolstadt and a 3-3 draw away from home to in-form Paderborn last time out. Sandhausen are still in the bottom three, but they are level on points with Magdeburg outside the relegation zone.

Both teams could really do with a win from this one, but I expect Dresden to make home advantage count. Back the home team to secure a vital victory.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN

Six of the seven league encounters between both sides at DDV Arena have seen even total goals. Back even total goals to be scored here too.

HEAD TO HEAD

Dresden have won only one of their last six league meetings with Sandhausen, losing three and drawing two.