Union Berlin - 1.FC Köln

Cologne to win at Alte Forsterei

TEAM NEWS

Union Berlin signed defender Nicolai Rapp from Aue while Simon Hedlund and Kevin Prince Redondo left the club during the winter break. With Joshua Mees they have only one player not available for the first match in 2019.

Cologne's list of absentees consists of Louis Schaub, Marco Hoger, Matthias Lehmann, Vincent Koziello and Lasse Sobiech while Jonas Hector is suspended after his fifth yellow card in the last game against Bochum. However, Cologne strengthen their squad with Florian Kainz from Bremen, Johannes Geis from Schalke and Anthony Modeste who is back from China. The only player who left the club was Simon Zoller.

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Joshua Mees (pulled muscle)

Cologne

Suspended: Jonas Hector

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Louis Schaub (acrooedema), Lasse Sobiech (adductor), Marco Hoger, Vincent Koziello (both ligaments), Matthias Lehmann (Achilles)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Union Berlins’s 17-game unbeaten run (seven wins, 10 draws) came to an end before the break, as Urs Fischer’s boys were beaten 3-0 by Daniel Meyer’s Aue at Erzgebirgs-Stadium. That first league loss for Union was a big setback in promotion race as they fall out of the top three. With three points behind third placed St. Pauli they need the turnaround immediately and get back on track of results like the first half of the campaign.

Cologne were uncharacteristically poor in their last league outing, losing 3-2 on home ground to Bochum. However, that was their last defeat since losing 1-0 to leaders Hamburg back in early November, six league games ago (five wins). Cologne have had their struggle at Rheinenergiestadium of late, but on the road they are very strong with six wins, one draw and only one defeat. 

This will no doubt be an intriguing league game between two teams who are desperate for the points. However, I’m backing Cologne to hit back with a vital victory at Alte Forsterei.

SECOND PREDICTION: HiLOW - HIGH

All three league meetings between the teams at Alte Forsterei have been high-scoring affairs. Expect this trend to continue.

HEAD TO HEAD

The sides have met only three times in the second tier so far, with Cologne winning two and Union one. The opener between the two sides ended with a 1-1  draw back in August.

Dynamo Dresden - Arminia Bielefeld

Dynamo to claim their fifth home win of the season

TEAM NEWS

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

New in Bielefeld’s squad is Reinhold Yabo from RB Salzburg who player some years ago already for Arminia. Uwe Neuhaus can not count on Nils Quaschner and Christopher Nothe for the rest of the season according to their heavy knee injuries. 

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

Bielefeld

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Nils Quaschner, Christopher Nothe (both knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Dynamo have been struggling recently, although they have won their last league outing against Duisburg 3-1 before the winter-break. Dresden Before that, they have lost two in a row and draw one. Prior to those bad results, Maik Walpurgis men have to improve in the upcoming weeks if they want to climb up in the table – sitting only on 10^thposition with 25 points to their name.

Bielefeld’s woes on home soil continued before the break as Uwe Neuhaus side were beaten 2-1 from Heidenheim. The Arminia have won one, drawn three and lost seven of their last eleven league fixtures. However, away from home they are unbeaten in three and have collected more points on the road as on home ground. Despite their bad run of late, they are still five points above the drop zone in 14^thplace at present.

Dresden have won two of their last three league matches at the DDV-Arena. Dynamo should see off a very disappointing Bielefeld side, so put some money on Dynamo to prevail.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD - DRAW

Each of the last three league encounters between the two sides at DDV-Arena has been level at the break. I expect this to be the case again.

HEAD TO HEAD

Dresden have not one of their last three home league meetings with Arminia, losing two times and drawing once. Arminia won also the first league encounter this season 2-1.

FC Heidenheim - Holstein Kiel

Heidenheim to see off Holstein Kiel

TEAM NEWS

Heidenheim will be without the injured captain Marc Schnatterer, Sebastian Greisbeck and Timo Beermann who are all injured while Nicolai Dovedan have been sidelined with suspension.

Captain David Kinsombi, Masaya Okugawa and Aaron Seydel continue to be out for Holstein Kiel.

Heidenheim

Suspended: Nikolai Dovedan

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marc Schnatterer (foot), Sebastian Griesbeck (ankle joint), Timo Beermann (thigh)

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Aaron Seydel (heel), Masaya Okugawa (pulled muscle), David Kinsombi (shinbone)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Heidenheim have responded expertly well from their 5-1 home defeat to Paderborn. Since then Frank Schmid’s side have won three and drawn one, beating both bottom teams Sandhausen and Duisburg before drawing at weak Ingolstadt but won the last match against Bielefeld 2-1 before the winter-break. Heidenheim have been in excellent shape in recent month, winning six of their last eleven games in the league, drawing four and losing only one.

Holstein Kiel have recovered well from a bad September and October, moving back into the top six of late. Before beating Sandhausen 2-1 just after last international break, Tim Walter’s men had taken ten points from a possible 27 in the league. Since then, the Storcks have beaten Sandhausen, 2-1, Duisburg 4-0, Dresden 2-0 and leaders Hamburg 3-1. Meanwhile, no side in Germany’s second tier have beaten Hamburg twice this season so far.

Heidenhieim are slowly but surely heading in the right direction after a slow start to their season. I can see them recoreding their sixth home league win of the campaign against a very strong side from Kiel.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH

Heidenheim have score two or more goals in three of their last four league outings while Holstein Kiel netted three in their victory at Holstein-Stadium in their last league encounter. There were plenty of goals between the pair at Voith-Arena in recent matches and I can see this continue here.

HEAD TO HEAD

There have only been only league meeting between the pair at Voith Arena with Holstein Kiel had won 5-3 last season. The first match this season finished with a 1-1 draw.

Hamburger SV - SV Sandhausen

Hamburg to return to winning ways

TEAM NEWS

Hamburg's Stephan Ambrosius, Jairo Samperio, Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Aaron Hunt are still absent. 

Sandhausen’s Maximilian Jansen, Alexander Rossipal, Tim Kister and Nejmeddin Daghfous are all out with different injuries.

Hamburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Jairo Samperio, Stephan Ambrosius (all knee); Aaron Hunt (calf)

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Tim Kister (broken foot); Alexander Rossipal (ankle), Nejmeddin Daghfous (knee), Maximilian Jansen (unspecified)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN 

Hamburg fell to an unexpected 3-1 defeat away from home to Holstein Kiel before the break. Despite this defeat Hannes Wolf’s boys remain on top of the league table, but only one point ahead second Cologne. The HSV have been in outstanding form in recent months, winning seven, drawing four of their last eleven in the league. Meanwhile, a 5-0 home loss to Jahn Regensburg back in late September remains their only defeat in their last  16 league matches, having drawn four and won 12 during that time.

While Hamburg have been riding on a crest of a wave. Sandhausen have been struggling big time of late and coming off a 0-0 home draw over Greuther Furth. Since beating Ingolstadt 4-0 at home back in October, the SVS have gone over two month without a win, losing three and drawing five of their last eight in Germany’s second tier. As a consequence of their woeful run of form, Sandhausen now find themselves close to the red zone.

Hamburg are starting to find some serious momentum under Hannes Wolf, and the HSV will be targeting another three points from this one. Hamburg have won three and drawn three of their last six league games at home, so back them to beat bottom side Sandhausen at Volkspark-Stadium.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE - HAMBURG

Hamburg have scored the opening goal in six of their last seven league matches and I think they will net the opener this weekend, too.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two have never met at Volkspark-Stadium in the second tier. Their first ever league meeting was won by Hamburg 3-0 in August earlier this season.

Jahn Regensburg - SC Paderborn

Paderborn to beat Jahn Regensburg once again

TEAM NEWS

Jahn Regensburg's Adrian Fein is been ruled out for the upcoming six weeks after his heavy knee injury.

Coach Steffen Baumgart has a fully-fit Paderborn team at his disposal, with only Leon Fesser, Khiry Shelton and Leon Bruggemeier are out with different injuries.

Jahn Regensburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Adrian Fein (knee)

Paderborn

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Leon Fesser (thigh), Khiry Shelton, Leon Bruggemeier (both knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN 

After their dramatic 2-2 draw at Hardtwald-Stadium, Jahn Regensburg cruised to a 2-1 win away from home over bottom club Ingolstadt before the winter-break. Jahn have been in fine fettle of late, losing only one of their last 13 league encounters along with five wins and seven draws. Achim Beierlorzer’s men are very hard to beat this term, with only Union Berlin (1) and Hamburg (4) losing fewer than the Jahn in the 2.Bundesliga up until now.

Paderborn are coming off an excellent 6-2 home win against struggling Darmstadt and have been in great shape in recent weeks so far, with only three teams have collected more points in the last five games. However, they have been average away from home, winning three, drawing one and losing four of their eight road trips.

After such an impressive win before the winter-break, Paderborn will fancy their chances of winning the next one away from home. I’m putting my money on a narrow away win here.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – EVEN

Paderborn have won four of their last six league games with Regensburg by a two-goal margin and I would not be surprised to see a similar outcome here. Back even total goals to be scored here.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have met only twice at Continental Arena, with Paderborn could win both without conceding a single goal but scored incredible six. The reverse fixture was won by Paderborn 2-0 too.

FC Magdeburg - Erzgebirge Aue

Magdeburg to claim first home win in this east derby

TEAM NEWS

Magdeburg boss Michael Oenning got some fresh faces with Steven Lewerenz from Kiel, Timo Perthel from Bochum and Jan Kirchhoff to avoid relegation. With Jasmin Fejzic, Joel Abu Hanna and Mergim Berisha left some the club too. Not ready for the first match are Alexandar Ignjovski and Richard Weil, who are injured. 

Aue have lost some important players like Nicolai Rapp, Soren Bertram and Sascha Hartel who all left the club during the break. With Steve Breitkreuz are only one player not available but Coach Daniel Meyer will not be happy with the current situation.

Magdeburg

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Aleksandar Ignjovski (elbow), Richard Weil (pulled muscle)

Aue

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Steve Breitkreuz (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Magdeburg go into this one in poor form, with the pressure now starting to grow on the team. FCM have lost three of their last five matches in the league, picking up a mere two points from the last 15 on offer after losing 4-1 away at St. Pauli before the winter-break. At home, the east-club have won zero of their nine in the league, drawing six and losing three, with two of those defeats arriving in their last four home league fixtures. 

Aue’s form has improved massively in recent weeks before the winter-break, winning two and drawing two of their last four league matches. After losing three, drawing one and winning only one of five, the Viola are unbeaten in four. The last match before the break, the Viola secured their six win of the campaign, beating in-form Union Berlin 3-0 on home ground. In doing so, Daniel Meyer’s men sit 12^thin the table with 22 points to their name.

Aue have been poor on their travels of late, and the Aue club could struggle in this one. Magdeburg have had a lot of problems at home, but I fancy them to hit the first home win of the season this term.

SECOND PREDICTION: HALF TIME HAD - DRAW

Magdeburg have been level at half time in three of their last four home league meetings. I fancy the draw in this one too.

HEAD TO HEAD

There have been only one league meeting between the sides – the reverse fixtures ended in a draw.

Greuther Fürth - FC Ingolstadt 04

Ingolstadt to secure first win on the road

TEAM NEWS

Greuther Furth have signed Kevin Prince Redondo from Union Berlin while Roberto Hilbert have left the club. Yosuke Ideguchi and Tobias Mohr won't feature because of injury.

Ingolstadt have signed a new keeper with Philipp Tschauner from Hannover and defender Mergim Mavraj from Saloniki. They will not have available for the derby against Furth Joey Breitfeld, Frederic Ananoou, Mergim Mavraj.

Greuther Furth

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Yosuke Ideguchi, Tobias Mohr (both knee); 

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Joey Breitfeld (knee); Frederic Ananou (shoulder), Mergim Mavraj (hand)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN  

Greuther Furth have failed to kick on from their 3-2 win over bottom side Magdeburg two month ago, taking just one point from their last four league games, drawing one and losing three. Before the winter break they stopped the negative run from three defeats in a row with a 0-0 draw at weak Sandhausen. However, the Shamrock have kick off the campaign in excellent style but failed to keep this good form at the end of the year.

Ingolstadt have been struggling big time of late and are coming off a 2-1 defeat in Bavarian derby against Jahn Regensburg. Since beating Aue 1-0 at home back in August, the Schanzer have gone over four month without a win, losing nine and drawing five of their last 14 in Germany’s second tier. As a consequence of their woeful run of form, Ingolstadt now find themselves at the bottom of the table.

This promises to be a very hard fight between two teams who are struggling for form in Germany’s second tier at the moment. But I can see Ingolstadt to come out and claim an important win after the winter-break.

SECOND PREDICTION: CORRECT SCORE – 0-1

Ingolstadt have won the last four league meetings at Greuther Furth, three of them with exactly 1-0. Have a punt on one goal to be scored in Ingolstadt’s favour this weekend.

HEAD TO HEAD

Greuther Furth have not won against Ingolstadt on home soil since 2011. The last three matches were all lost with exactly 1-0.

SV Darmstadt 98 - FC St. Pauli

All square in this important match for both

TEAM NEWS

Rouven Sattelmaier, Max Grun and Selim Gunduz remain on the sidelines at Darmstadt through injury. Moreover they lost captain Aytac Sulu who left the club while Soren Bertram signed a contract at Bollenfalltor during the winter-transfer-window.

St. Pauli signed former Frankfurt hero Alexander Meier while midfield player Bernd Nehrig left the club. With Philipp Ziereis and Henk Veerman they will miss two important players with knee injuries for the rest of the season.

Darmstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Rouven Sattelmaier, Selim Gunduz (both knee); Max Grun (elbow)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Philipp Ziereis, Henk Veerman (both knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Darmstadt fell to a very disappointing 6-2 defeat on the road to Paderborn before the break, falling to recover from going a goal down early on. The Lilian are now winless in six league matches having drawn two and lost four in recent weeks. Darmstadt have had a mixed bag of results this campaign, winning only five, drawing four and losing nine of their 18 league outings.  

St. Pauli have been scoring for fun before the break, netting an incredible nine goals in their last three league games. In the process, St. Pauli have taken 15 points from the last 21 on offer since losing 1-0 at home to Holstein Kiel back in late October. Since middle of September, St. Pauli have lost only one of their 13 league fixtures, won eight and drawing four of those matches. Last years 4-1 home win against Magdeburg has put them just three points adrift of their leaders and City-rival Hamburg.

Both teams in different regions of the table are in need of a good start but I see both to cancel each other out and we can expect a draw here. Therefore take a punt on this to end in a draw.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE - DARMSTADT

Darmstadt have scored first in both home league meetings with St. Pauli recently. Back the home side to score the opening goal in this one, too.

HEAD TO HEAD

Darmstadst are unbeaten in six home league meetings with St. Pauli, winning four and drawing two.

VfL Bochum - MSV Duisburg

Bochum to make it back-to-back wins

TEAM NEWS

Bochum could sign Simon Zoller from league rival Cologne while Timo Perthel left the club during the break. They are still dealing with long-term absentees Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic, Maxim Leitsch and Baris Ekincier while Tim Hoogland is not available with suspension, too.

Duisburg transfer coup during the break was to sign Havard Nielsen from Fortuna Dusseldorf. However, they can not count on Christian Gartner and Sebastian Neumann who will be out for the remainder of the year. Additional will miss John Verhoek and Stanislav Iljutcenko the match against Bochum due to suspension.

Bochum

Suspended: Tim Hoogland

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Jannik Bandowski, Milos Pantovic (both knee), Maxim Leitsch (pubis), Baris Ekincier (unspecified)

Duisburg

Suspended: John Verhoek, Stanislav Iljutcenko

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Christian Gartner, Sebastian Neumann (both knee); 

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

After back-to-back defeats to St. Pauli 3-1 and Union Berlin 2-0, Bochum recorded a precious 3-2 away win over giant Cologne before the break. Robin Dutt’s side have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, taking just one win from their previous four league games. However, on home soil they are very strong this campaign, winning five, drawing one and losing three of their nine league fixtures. 

Since taking over from Ilja Gruev, who was fired at the end of September, Torsten Lieberknecht has made a good start to his managerial career at Duisburg but received a setback with four defeats in a row before the winter-break. With the last one finished 3-1 against Duisburg, he has won four, drawn two and lost five with his new team. The Zebras kicked off their season very awful, but the MSV still have the chance to avoid the worst case despite sitting on 16^thplace with only 13 points but even with 15^thplaced Sandhausen.

Bochum is very strong on home ground and should see off struggling Duisburg here. My money is going on a home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: HiLOW - LOW

Bochum have scored just 15 home goals this term while Duisburg have netted only 10 times away form home, which is the fourth least in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga. The last four meetings between the pair have been low-scoring affairs too – I fancy this to be again.

HEAD TO HEAD

The last two league meetings between the pair have been won by Bochum. Meanwhile, Duisburg have not won at Vonovia Stadium in league action since a top-flight meeting back in May 1999.