Promotion-chasing Kiel and Nuremberg happy to take a point

Bundesliga 2
BT Sport 3, 7.30pm Monday

Third-placed Holstein Kiel have drawn seven of their 15 home matches this season, the joint-highest total in the Bundesliga 2, and look worth backing to get another stalemate when they host Nuremberg.

The highflying pair are locked in an enthralling three-way fight for two automatic promotion spots with current leaders Fortuna Dusseldorf, and defeat for either would be damaging to any title aspirations.

Fortuna’s recent hiccups - they have lost three on the spin - have given the sides some belief that they can not only secure promotion to the German top-flight but celebrate with silverware as just four points separate the trio.

Both Holstein and Nuremberg have highly-anticipated showdowns with the league leaders to come so a draw in Kiel wouldn’t be the worst result.

The hosts are in unfamiliar territory having been promoted from the third tier of German football last season but have handled the pressure well so far and Nuremberg are unlikely to deter them.

Frontman Marvin Ducksch has notched 16 goals in 30 starts and should cause plenty of problems, while creative midfielder Dominick Drexler could have his say if given licence to roam in the centre of the park.

Michael Kollner’s men have drawn four of their last five league games on the road and given they hold a two-point cushion on Holstein, will be happy to collect another away point.

The pair played out a 2-2 draw when they locked horns in Bavaria earlier in the season and the reverse showdown could be a repeat with stakes high and little to split the teams in terms of quality.

Recommendation
Draw
1pt 5-2 general

Bundesliga 2 standings

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