FC Ingolstadt 04 - Hamburger SV

Hamburg to continue their good run with away victory

TEAM NEWS

Ingolstadt midfielders Christian Trasch and Joey Breitfeld are out until the end of the year with knee injuries. Tobias Schrock has suffered a thigh injury.

Hamburg are still dealing with several absentees as Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio and Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Matti Steinmann remain sidelined. 

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christian Trasch, Joey Breitfeld (both knee); Tobias Schrock (thigh)

Hamburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Gideon Jung, Jairo Samperio (all knee); Matti Steinmann (adductor)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN 

Ingolstadt manager Alexander Nouri has been released from his duties after failing to win in his eight league matches in charge. Nouri started life at Ingolstadt with four defeats on the bounce, and although the three straight draws that followed were somewhat encouraging they did little to lift the team off the bottom of the table. Having lost 2-0 against Dresden at DDV Arena last weekend, the Schanzer have still won just one league game since early September, drawing three and losing seven since then, while they are also still winless away from home with two draws and five losses.

Hamburg were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by in-form Union Berlin at Volkspark Stadium last week. This was Hannes Wolf’s first winless encounter since he took over from Christian Titz last month, having won the first three league games in charge. Overall, his side have been beaten just twice in 14league fixtures this term, along with eight wins and four draws, and are sitting top of the table.

Ingolstadt have been poor all season and having seen their manager sacked will not improve the stability at the club. I can see Hamburg, who have won over 50% of their league games, picking up a crucial away win here.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – HAMBURG

Hamburg have scored the opening goal in three of their last four league matches while Ingolstadt have conceded first in three of the last five. I’ll be backing Hamburg to net the opener this weekend too.

HEAD TO HEAD

The only four league meetings between these sides have taken place in Germany's top flight, with each team winning one and two draws.