Einer. Braunschweig - Fortuna Düsseldorf

Home team to win the derby

TEAM NEWS

Braunschweig’s key strikers Domi Kumbela and Christoffer Nyman are out injured while Mirko Boland and Joseph Baffo have suffered knee injuries and are unavailable too.

Dusseldorf will be without first ‘keeper Michael Rensing again as he has broken his ribs, but the club have no further injury concerns.

Braunschweig

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Mirko Boland, Joseph Baffo (both knee); Domi Kumbela (unspecified), Christoffer Nyman (pulled muscle)

Dusseldorf

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Michael Rensing (broken rib)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Braunschweig claimed a deserved 0-0 draw at home in last weekend’s standout match against leaders Holstein Kiel. Although they didn’t manage to extend their winning sequence to two games and have recorded their tenth draw – a league record – they were happy with this result as it means that they are capable of competing with the strongest clubs in the 2. Bundesliga. However, their inability to convert draws into wins has left them sitting in 11^th place with four wins and three defeats out of 17 matches.

Dusseldorf have been inconsistent at best lately, having recorded two draws and three defeats in their last five, and they need to bounce back from their latest disappointing defeat to avoid losing sight of the top as they are trailing leaders Holstein Kiel by two points. The team, who are now in third place on 31 points, lost 2-0 at home against second-placed Nurnberg on Monday, with both goals arriving in the final 25 minutes of the game. Dusseldorf haven’t won in their last three road games in the league, with two draws and one defeat.

I can see no end to Dusseldorf’s current bad run and even a visit to Braunschweig is looking beyond them at the moment, while the best they can hope for is to escape with a draw. However, I do think the hosts will edge this and predict a home win.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – BRAUNSCHWEIG

Braunschweig should get off the mark first after opening the scoring in three of their last four home games against Dusseldorf. The team have a +3 goal difference from their nine matches played at their own stadium this term and I think they will start fast and net the opener here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Braunschweig’s recent home record against Dusseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga consists of two wins, one draw and one defeat, with the team scoring five and conceding five goals.