FC Magdeburg - Union Berlin

Magdeburg to put poor home form to bed with the first win

TEAM NEWS

Magdeburg boss Michael Oenning will not be able to count on Rico Preissinger and Aleksandar Ignjovski, who remain out injured. 

Union Berlin will once again be without the long-term injured Marc Torrejon while Christopher Lenz and Fabian Schonheim are expected to return soon. However, this league match will come too soon for them.

Magdeburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Rico Preissinger (foot), Aleksandar Ignjovski (elbow)

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marc Torrejon (calf), Christopher Lenz (pulled muscle), Fabian Schonheim (adductor)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Magdeburg have started life under Michael Oenning with an unlucky 3-2 defeat at Greuther Furth in round 14 and a 0-0 home draw with Bochum last weekend. Despite having more shots on target, they were unable to find the back of the net. However, that draw ended a five-match losing streak, a run during which they conceded exactly three goals on four occasions. Overall, it is far to say that Magdeburg have had an abysmal start to their league campaign with only ten points from 15 league games. However, the last two league matches will have given them hope of having turned a corner.

Union Berlin have still not lost in the league this season (six wins, nine draws) and are coming off an easy 3-1 home win over struggling Darmstadt. Urs Fischer’s men have been one of the in-form teams in Germany’s second tier recently and are in third, but five of their last seven league matches have been draws. 

Oenning appears to be providing Magdeburg with a much-needed boost and the team will be hoping to keep their unbeaten run going. Their home league match against Union Berlin will no doubt be tough, but I have a feeling the hosts will win here, registering their first home win this season. 

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST HALF HAD – DRAW

Magdeburg have been drawing at half time in ten of their 15 league matches – the joint highest record when it comes to this statistic. I predict another first-half draw here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These teams will meet for the first time in the second division.