Prediction: Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Paderborn

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Bet365

With the Bundesliga making its much-welcomed return to action behind closed doors this weekend, two of the Bundesliga relegation scrappers will face-off on Saturday afternoon when Fortuna Dusseldorf host Paderborn.

Fortuna Dusseldorf

Starting with the hosts, opening March by crashing out of the DFP Pokal thanks to a stunning penalties defeat away at lower-league Saarbrücken, Fortuna Dusseldorf entered the unexpected break in the midst of a real struggle. Still sat in the relegation play-off spot and returning this weekend sat four points adrift of safety, Uwe Rösler’s side have won just one of their last eight Bundesliga appearances, a run that stems back to the 22nd of December. Along with continuing to show some worrying issues at the back after shipping seven goals in back-to-back home appearances against Hertha Berlin and a 4-1 hammering against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the one-time Brentford boss has also seen his strugglers gain a reputation for their consistent problems in front of goal. With leading marksman Rouwen Hennings failing to find the net in his last six matches across all competitions, no side in the Bundesliga holds a worse attacking record than Saturday’s hosts.

Team News

Dusseldorf are expected to be without first-choice goalkeeper Zack Steffen for the remainder of the season, while Oliver Fink and Alfredo Morelos are also due to miss out for the home side.

Paderborn

As for the visitors, while Fortuna Dusseldorf might be showing their own struggles, it has been nothing short of a woeful Bundesliga return for Paderborn after ending their four years in exile. Hit with a deserved 2-1 defeat at home against Koln prior to the unexpected break, Steffen Baumgart’s men have lost their last four top-flight appearances on the bounce and open the weekend sat 10 points adrift of safety. Already appearing to be preparing for life once against in Bundesliga 2 next year, Paderborn have also continued to show some worrying issues at the back. Along with picking up just a single point out of a possible 18 since the start of February, Saturday’s guests have now shipped at least a pair of strikes in five of their last six outings. Despite picking up a 2-0 win when they faced off against Fortuna earlier in the campaign, it should also be noted that the Blue and Blacks have recorded just two clean sheets in their last 19 Bundesliga matches on the road.

Team News

Luca Kilian and Streli Mamba are both expected to miss out with thigh and knee problems respectively.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off earlier in the season, Paderborn picked up a 2-0 win at the Benteler-Arena.
• In fact, Paderborn are unbeaten in their last four matches against Fortuna Dusseldorf with two wins and two draws.
• No side in the Bundesliga has scored fewer goals than Fortuna (27 goals).
• Paderborn have lost their last four Bundesliga matches on the bounce, conceding at least a pair of goals in each of those defeats.
• Saturday’s hosts have shipped seven goals in back-to-back matchups on home soil.

Conclusion

On paper, both sides should be looking at a real opportunity to pick up what is a much-needed morale boost. In a battle between two sides in the midst of a real relegation scrap and continuing to show some glaring issues at the back, Saturday could see an abundance of chances at both ends of the pitch. With five of the last six Bundesliga meetings between the two sides ending with both teams finding the net, we’re backing a similar outcome at the Merkur Spiel-Arena this weekend.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Bet365