MSV Duisburg - SC Paderborn

Duisburg aiming for first home win

TEAM NEWS

Duisburg’s Christian Gartner is expected to be out for the remainder of the year. Joseph-Claude Gyau and Sebastian Neumann face fresh injuries and are not available against Paderborn.

Coach Steffen Baumgart has a fully-fit Paderborn team to choose from. 

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christian Gartner (knee), Joseph-Claude Gyau (foot), Sebastian Neumann (hip)

Paderborn

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Duisburg have been finding life in Germany’s second tier tough going so far, picking up zero points from their five home league games after an unlucky 1-0 defeat to St. Pauli in their last home league fixture. However, sitting second from bottom, their home form will be key for the Zebras if they are to stay up in the second division this season. Torsten Lieberknecht’s troops were very close to winning away at rock-bottom Ingolstadt last weekend but conceded an equaliser in stoppage time, drawing 1-1. Overall, the side have won one, drawn three and lost seven of their 11 league matches.

Paderborn have been hard to beat since returning to the second division, losing only two of their 11 league matches thus far, along with four wins and five draws. After falling to a very unlucky 2-1 defeat away at in-form St. Pauli in late September, Paderborn responded with back-to-back victories over Aue and Ingolstadt before drawing their last two league outings, 0-0 at home against Union Berlin and 3-3 at home against Sandhausen last weekend. Steffen Baumgart’s men displayed determination in their most recent league game as despite trailing by two goals after 27 minutes, they were leading 3-2 by the 80^thminute. However, a late third goal from Sandhausen cost them two points. Paderborn are currently in a respectable sixth place with 17 points.

Paderborn have been superb this campaign so far but Duisburg are looking for their first home points and will be desperate for a win here. Expect a hard-fought league match between the two, with Duisburg claiming a narrow home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – ODD

Four of the last five league meetings between the pair have finished with odd total goals. I believe this trend will continue here. Take a punt on odd total goals to be scored.

HEAD TO HEAD

Duisburg and Paderborn last met in league action in Germany's third tier two years ago, with the former claiming two 1-0 victories.