Dynamo Dresden - SV Darmstadt 98

Dresden set to inflict more misery on lowly visitors

TEAM NEWS

Dresden are still without the long-term injured Pascal Testroet, Soren Gonther, Marco Hartmann and Marvin Schwabe.

Dirk Schuster’s Darmstadt have a full-strength side for this weekend’s trip to Dresden but have to replace both the suspended Immanuel Hohn and Kevin Grosskreutz.

Dresden

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Pascal Testroet, Marco Hartmann (both knee); Soren Gonther (Achilles), Marvin Schwabe (meniscus)

Darmstadt

Suspended: Immanuel Hohn, Kevin Grosskreutz

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Dresden beat Bielefeld away from home 3-2 last Friday, with Lucas Roser netting the 79^th minute winner. The victory put an end to their run of three away losses in the league and provided three valuable points, as Dresden moved to tenth with 32 points from 24 games. Having registered back-to-back wins in their last two outings, Dresden are coming into this game with a lot of confidence and will want to win this one against lowly Darmstadt at home.

Since beating St. Pauli after the winter break, Darmstadt have picked up just one point from the last 15 on offer. In fact, the Lilies have won only one of their last 18 league games. As a consequence, the team have dropped to four points from safety as they only managed a 1-1 draw at home against Heidenheim last Sunday. With ten matches left, they will need to go all in for the three points.

This is a big match at DDV Stadium, but Dresden are good enough to make home advantage count and take all three points. I’m backing a Dresden win in this important game this week.

SECOND PREDICTION: FIRST TEAM TO SCORE – DRESDEN

Dresden have scored the opening goal in three of their last four league games at home. Furthermore, they have scored first in their only two meetings with Darmstadt too. I’ll back Dresden to notch the first goal on Friday.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two teams have never met at Dresden in the 2. Bundesliga. The reverse game ended in a 3-3 draw last September.