Nuremberg can keep up push for return to top flight

Bundesliga 2 7.30pm Monday

Nuremberg have not played in the Bundesliga since 2014 but they are among the front runners in the Bundesliga 2 this season and can enhance their promotion hopes by beating Ingolstadt at the Max-Morlock-Stadion.

Bookmakers slightly favour visitors Ingolstadt, who are five points worse off.

Ingolstadt were relegated last season and suffered something of a hangover, losing four of their opening five league games.

They have improved and stretched their winning sequence to three with a 3-1 success at mid-table Arminia Bielefeld ten days ago.

However, the win came at a cost with winger Marcel Gaus receiving a red card which means he is suspended for this game.

Gaus, a summer signing from Kaiserslautern, has been an important player but he has been outshone by fellow winger Sonny Kittel, who has netted seven goals in 12 appearances.

Centre-forward Stefan Kutschke has weighed in with four penalties but is yet to reach the standards he set last season when scoring 16 second-tier goals for Dynamo Dresden.

Nuremberg possess greater firepower and are the second-highest scorers in the division with 26 goals in 12 league games.

Swedish striker Mikael Ishak failed to score in his first 12 league appearances for the club but the floodgates have opened with eight goals scored in his last seven games.

He is the main threat but Ingolstadt also have to keep a close eye on Germany Under-21 attacker Cedric Teuchert, who has netted six goals in 12 appearances this season.

Teuchert was on target in each of the Germans' Under-21 matches last month - a 6-1 success at home to Azerbaijan and a 3-1 loss away to Norway - and will be full of confidence.

Nuremberg suffered a 1-0 loss at Heidenheim last time out but have the ingredients in place to mount a sustained challenge and can bounce back with a win.

Recommendation
Nuremberg
1pt 2-1 bet365, Betway

Bet on football at soccerbase.com

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter@racingpostsport

Like us on FacebookRacingPostSport