Nurnberg vs Eintracht Braunschweig Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Much was expected of Nurnberg going into the 17/18 season – their main target being to replicate their 2015/16 push for promotion, where they finished 3rd, but failed to beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga playoffs. A slow start to the season brought some doubts on whether the Bavarians’ would do that again, but as time has gone on, their summer investments look to have come into fruition. Last Monday’s 3-1 win put them five points clear of Holstein Kiel in 3rd, and should Kiel lose again this weekend, Nurnberg could seal their return to the Bundesliga with a win here.

Promotion into the Bundesliga was also the target for visitors Eintracht Braunschweig ahead of this season, having finished 3rd last time around. Braunschweig are another side to fall victim to the tough task of the Bundesliga playoffs – theirs was against Wolfsburg – and that defeat seems to have taken it’s toll on them. The Lions have not managed to string together back-to-back wins all season – in fact, Braunschweig have won the third fewest matches of any side in the league (W8 D15 L8) – and Torsten Lieberknecht’s men could be pulled into a late relegation battle with a loss on Monday.

From a betting perspective, backing ‘both teams to score’ looks to be the way to go here. For starters, Nurnberg’s home matches this term have been worth tuning in for, even for neutral fans, with both teams scoring in 73% of their outings at the ‎Max-Morlock-Stadion. With the hosts’ Hanno Behrens (top scorer – 13 goals) in decent form too – he’s scored four in his last four – Nurnberg should have no problem finding the back of the net against an Eintracht Braunschweig side that has kept a clean sheet in just a quarter of their away matches this season. On Eintracht’s part, while they’re not the Bundesliga 2’s most prolific scorers, they should have enough firepower in a player like Suleiman Abdullahi to get themselves a goal against a side that has kept a clean sheet in just 13% of their home outings – in fact, six of Abdullahi’s seven goals this season have come away from home.

Nurnberg are the more in-form side heading into this, and it’s on their own turf where they’ve been excelling in recent weeks. The Bavarians have lost just one of their last eight in front of the home fans (W4 D3 L1), while Eintracht have won just one of their last seven on the road (W1 D3 L3). Nurnberg’s top track record at home to Braunschweig (see head-to-head) should give them that extra confidence to get the job done. And given their top scoring form at the Max-Morlock-Stadion – the hosts have scored two or more goals in five of their last eight there – this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Our prediction: a 3-1 Nurnberg win.