FC Ingolstadt 04 - Fortuna Düsseldorf

Top clash between two hot teams

TEAM NEWS

Ingolstadt have a full squad available.

Dusseldorf will be without first ‘keeper Michael Rensing again as he has broken his ribs, but the club have no further injury concerns. Furthermore, they have to find replacements for Kaan Ayhan and Florian Neuhaus, who are both suspended.

Ingolstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

Dusseldorf

Suspended: Kaan Ayhan, Florian Neuhaus

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Michael Rensing (broken rib)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Ingolstadt were lucky enough to find the winning goal against fourth placed Nurnberg during their 2-1 win on Monday two weeks ago. They were level with the home side until the 81^st minute and almost registered their third draw this season but managed to score the winner through a penalty. The team are continuing to edge closer to the top three because after a very weak start to the campaign and they are trailing Union Berlin by only five points. Their recent impressive run of four wins and a draw has put them into a much better situation and they will now firmly believe that they can enter the race for promotion by the end of the year.

Leaders Dusseldorf are travelling to Ingolstadt on a seven-match unbeaten run. Having clinched five wins and two draws, they were on great form before the international break and a win here could allow them to extend their lead over Holstein Kiel. This puts them in a very comfortable situation and with only one defeat so far they do have the momentum. However, this match is likely to be a tough test for them and both of their last matches were disappointing draws against teams in the bottom five.

The fact that Ingolstadt were winning before the break whereas Dusseldorf only managed draws against lowly opponents makes me believe that the hosts could grab a narrow win here.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – THREE

Ingolstadt have been scoring a fair amount of goals of late, registering 13 in the last five, and although they are welcoming leaders Dusseldorf, there is no reason why this could not continue. The visitors are capable in attack and should be able to find the net too, having scored in all but one of their league matches this season. With three of Ingolstadt’s last five matches seeing exactly three total goals and Dusseldorf’s last five averaging over two in total, another three goals seem likely here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two teams have met four times at Ingolstadt in the 2. Bundesliga, with the hosts winning two, registering one draw and suffering one defeat.