SC Paderborn - Dynamo Dresden

Paderborn to seal third home win

TEAM NEWS

Coach Steffen Baumgart has a fully-fit Paderborn team at his disposal, with only Leon Fesser out with a thigh injury.

Dresden's Marco Hartmann, Patrick Moschl, Linus Wahlqvist and Niklas Kreuzer have been ruled out.

Paderborn

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Leon Fesser (thigh)

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Niklas Kreuzer (strip), Marco Hartmann (rib), Patrick Moschl (hamstring), Linus Wahlqvist (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN 

Paderborn are no longer playing as well as they did earlier in the season and have secured only five points from their last 15 available. Since registering back-to-back wins over two months ago, the side have lost two, drawn four and won only once. Their inability to convert draws into wins has seen languishing in mid-table and they are trailing third-placed Union Berlin by six points after losing 1-0 at leaders Hamburg last weekend. Nevertheless, they are still unbeaten on their own turf with two wins and six draws.

Dresden have had a topsy-turvy season so far, winning six, losing six and drawing four of their 16 league fixtures. The side are difficult to pin down, highlighted by their recent record of two wins, two draws and two losses (including a 2-0 home defeat against Holstein Kiel last weekend) over their last six league fixtures. Dresden are level on points with Paderborn, having secured 22 so far, but they have a worse goal difference. 

Both teams will be desperate to return to winning ways, but Paderborn's decent home form may be key here. I'm backing the home side. 

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH

63% of Paderborn’s home league matches have seen three total goals or more. In addition, the teams' last eight league meetings have been high-scoring affairs. With both teams in need of points I expect another high-scoring league encounter.

HEAD TO HEAD

Paderborn and Dresden last met in Germany’s second tier in 2013-14, with Paderborn taking four points from the two league fixtures.