Bundesliga 2: Matchday 9 preview

[caption id="attachment_1136" align="aligncenter" width="470" caption="The Fritz-Walter-Stadion will be empty this weekend as Kaiserslautern travel to Ingolstadt"][/caption]

Terry Duffelen looks forward to another round of fixtures in the German second division.

Friday 05/10/12

Hertha BSC v 1860 München

Hertha surprisingly only managed a draw against bottom club MSV Duisberg last Monday but are much more reliable at home in Berlin. In fact they've only dropped points at home once so far this season. Despite being undefeated, 1860 have only won once away from the Allianz so a draw may be a reasonable bet.

St. Pauli v Union Berlin

Definitely a game for the much talked about football hipsters. St Pauli welcome their new coach Michael Frontzeck for his first match in charge after André Schubert was sacked. As Jon Hartley pointed out earlier this week, the former ‘Gladbach coach’s win percentage of is not great and it is difficult for the outsider to see the logic in the appointment. Union are recovering from a pretty awful start to the season. Six of their last seven points have been at home with only two points so far on the road. There may be a volatile atmosphere at the Millerntor which Union may be able to take advantage of. While an away win may seem optimistic I would not be surprised to see the away team score the first goal of the game.

FSV Frankfurt v Paderborn

The other Frankfurt have dropped to seventh in the table after two consecutive defeats. Paderborn are not quite the team that has challenged for promotion in recent seasons and they too have lost their last two games. Well, they can't both lose. In fairness to Paderborn their last two matches were against a resurgent Cologne and high flying Cottbus. They're not so good away from home however, so a Frankfurt win seems the most likely outcome.

Saturday 06/10/12

Eintracht Brauschweig v Bochum

Bochum's travel to the Eintracht Stadium in reasonable form. Just the one defeat in five for the club from the Ruhr and that was against a very good Kaiserslautern side. Having said that their last win was five games ago albeit away from home. Braunschweig are still top and still unbeaten, only dropping points against 'Lautern and 1860 Munich which is no disgrace. Home win.

Energie Cottbus v MSV Duisburg

Along with Braunschweig, Cottbus are perhaps a surprise early season pace setter. Their first set back came last week at the hands of Union Berlin. What better time to play the bottom club than when you need to put things back on track? A word of caution before you lump your lunch money on a home win. Duisberg managed a draw against Hertha last week and while should not be regarded as in a false position, are dogged opponents.

Sunday 07/10/12

Ingolstadt v Kaiserslautern

Whenever the home side have picked up points it's been against manageable opposition but as soon as they encountered 1860, they lost. On Sunday they face another promotion contender in the improving Kaiserslautern who I think are the best team I've seen in this division. Admittedly, those are dangerous words in what is a very fluid and unpredictable league. However, FCK have won all of their away matches and it would be a surprise if they didn't leave the Audi Sportpark with at least a point. Interstingly 'Lautern have always been the first to score in their games on the road.

Erzgebirge Aue v Jahn Regensburg

Two straight wins has moved Regensburg into a reassuring mid table position and should be confident of win number three against a plummeting Aue side who have not once since August.

Sandhausen v Aalen

Five wins for Aalen this season, three of which have been away from home. Sandhausen meanwhile have been wretched just about everywhere with only one point in five.

Monday 08/10/12

Cologne v Dynamo Dresden

It was panic stations a few weeks ago as Cologne sat second from bottom of the table with barely a point to their name. Two wins later and the mass ranks at the Rheinenergiestadion are starting to breath again as is the coach, Holger Stanislawski. Dresden's win against Aue was their first for four games. Very difficult to foresee the outcome but your suspect that the home side's squad is starting to click which should give them the edge.