SV Sandhausen - MSV Duisburg

Duisburg to make it back-to-back victories

TEAM NEWS

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

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 while Lukas Frode is suspended.

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

Duisburg

Suspended: Lukas Frode

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Sandhausen fell to their seventh league defeat of the season last weekend as they were beaten 3-1 away at sixth placed Dresden. Having picked up only four points from the last five league matches thanks to a 3-3 draw with Paderborn and a 4-0 win over rock-bottom Ingolstadt, their losses against Magdeburg (1-0), St. Pauli (3-1) and Dresden (3-1) have been a real setback for Gerhard Kleppinger’s side. The team are still in 16^thplace, but are level on points with 15^thplaced Magdeburg.

Duisburg picked up their second win of the season in round 12, beating eighth placed Paderborn 2-0 at the Schauinslandreisen Arena. Their previous victory had been a 2-1 success against leaders Cologne away from home in mid-October. Torsten Lieberknecht’s men are second from bottom and have nine points from 12 league games, like their opponents this week, thanks to two wins, three draws and seven defeats. Only Ingolstadt have collected fewer points.

After last weekend's crucial home win, Duisburg will be on the lookout for back-to-back victories – and this league match against opponents who have similarly struggled this season, appears to be the perfect opportunity. Torsten Lieberknecht’s side have shown decent form in recent away league matches, winning one and drawing three. I'm backing the away win here.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN

Two of the three league encounters between both sides at Hardtwald Stadium have seen even total goals. Back even total goals to be scored here too.

HEAD TO HEAD

Sandhausen have not won any of their last three home league meetings with Duisburg, losing two and drawing one.