MSV Duisburg - Holstein Kiel

Duisburg to climb further up the table with home win

TEAM NEWS

Duisburg’s Christian Gartner will be out for the remainder of the year. Joseph-Claude Gyau, Cauly Oliveira Souza, Cauly and Sebastian Neumann are not available either.

Arne Sicker, Mathias Honsak, Aaron Seydel and Philipp Sander continue to be out at Holstein Kiel. 

Duisburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christian Gartner (knee), Joseph-Claude Gyau (foot), Sebastian Neumann (hip), Cauly Oliveira Souza (ankle), Cauly (thigh)

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Duisburg have been in good form of late as Torsten Lieberknecht’s troops have won two and drawn two of their past four matches in the league to fire themselves up to 15^thplace in the table. The side had previously occupied a spot in the drop zone. During their four-game unbeaten run, Duisburg have conceded just one goal, scoring four along the way. After drawing 0-0 with Sandhausen before the international break, a Ahmet Engin goal in the 82^ndminute was enough to give the Zebras a 1-0 win away from home over Bielefeld in the last round.

Holstein Kiel are coming off a great run of results themselves, picking up an impressive 12 points from seven very tough league fixtures, beating Darmstadt 4-2 and St. Pauli 1-0 whilst drawing with Cologne, Ingolstadt and Paderborn. Last weekend, Tim Walter’s men earned a narrow 2-1 win over strugglers Sandhausen on home soil. Their only defeat during that time came against Aue 2-1 at the beginning of October. Holstein Kiel are now ninth in the table on 21 points from 14 league games.

Duisburg will be eager to claim their second home win of the season, having found their form of late. Despite hovering just above the bottom  three, they are one of the in-form side at present and I think their recent results will give them the confidence to grab all three points here. 

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – DUISBURG

Duisburg have scored the opening goal in three of their last four league outings, winning two and drawing two in the process. Holstein Kiel have opened the scoring just once in their last four league fixtures. Put some money on the home team to strike first.

HEAD TO HEAD

Holstein Kiel won both league encounters last season, beating Duisburg 5-0 at home and 3-1 on the road.