Freitag, 16. März 2018

Holstein Kiel - FC Heidenheim

Holstein Kiel to take all three points on home ground

TEAM NEWS

Holstein Kiel will have to do without the long-term injured Arne Sicker, Amara Conde and Manuel Janzer.

Heidenheim will be without the injured Marnon Busch, Oliver Steurer and Timo Beermann, but they have an otherwise full squad available for the clash against Holstein Kiel. Furthermore, they have to find a replacement for the suspended Mathias Wittek after the defender received his tenth yellow card..

Holstein Kiel

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Manuel Janzer (Achilles), Arne Sicker (unspecified), Amara Conde (foot)

Heidenheim

Suspended: Mathias Wittek

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Marnon Busch, Oliver Steurer (both knee), Timo Beermann (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Markus Anfang’s Holstein Kiel missed the chance to put pressure on second-placed Nurnberg after they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Bochum at the Vonovia Ruhrstadium last Saturday. Despite winning their last home game against Duisburg the previous weekend, promotion-chasing Kiel have now taken only 12 points from an available 39 since claiming a victory against Dresden at the beginning of November.

Frank Schmidt’s Heidenheim had looked helpless until mid-October, but they have since picked up form and have lost only three of their last 15 league matches. However, Heidenheim have one of the worst away records in the league with just two wins in 13 games. The team held Bielefeld to a 2-2 draw at home two weeks ago but were beaten at Dresden last Friday, with the game ending 3-2.

Neither side are in great form, but Kiel should be looking to bounce back at Holstein Stadium. I’m backing the hosts to claim a vital victory against weak travellers Heidenheim on Friday.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – FOUR

Both teams have been conceding goals regularly recently and that might result in goals here. In fact, Holstein Kiel’s last five matches have seen four total goals on average while there have been nine in Heidenheim’s last two. I expect four here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These teams have never met in Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga. Back in October, the reverse fixture ended in a 5-3 win for visitors Holstein Kiel.

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