Holstein Kiel - SV Sandhausen

Holstein Kiel to make home advantage count

TEAM NEWS

Holstein Kiel's Arne Sicker, Mathias Honsak and Philipp Sander are sidelined, as is striker Aaron Seydel who is out with a heel injury.

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

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Arne Sicker, Philipp Sander (both unspecified); Mathias Honsak (broken arm), Aaron Seydel (heel)

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Holstein Kiel were involved in a very entertaining 4-4 draw away to Paderborn in their most recent league match before the international break, with Kingsley Schindler (two goals), Alexander Muhling and Janni Serra hitting the back of the net for them. That result has moved Tim Walter’s men back into tenth position with a positive +1 goal difference. They are unbeaten in their last four league games but have won only one of those, drawing the other three. Given Sandhausen's struggles this season, this is a league game the home side will want to win and having scored a respectable two goals on average on their own turf, they should be able to claim the three points.

Sandhausen are only above 16^thplaced Duisburg on goal difference. It has been a poor start for the team who finished their last league campaigns in 11^thand tenth place respectively despite a very low budget. Coming off a scoreless draw at home against Duisburg, Sandhausen have won just two, drawn four and lost seven of their 13 league fixtures thus far and they have not won on the road since late September.

Holstein Kiel have been impossible to beat on home soil so far this season, winning two and drawing four of their six home league matches, and they will back themselves to pick up another three points at Holstein Stadium this weekend.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN

All of Holstein Kiel and Sandhausen’s last three league encounters have finished with even total goals. I’m backing a repeat of this here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Holstein Kiel are yet to win in this head-to-head, having drawn three and lost one of the only four league meetings with Sandhausen.