St Pauli vs Nurnberg Predictions & Tips

• 20 of St Pauli’s 33 league goals have been scored in the opening half
• St Pauli are unbeaten in their last four games and have lost only one of eight fixtures at home since October
• Three of the last five meetings between these two teams have ended level, which includes a 1-1 draw earlier in the season

Evenly-matched duo may share the spoils

There is just one point standing between St Pauli in 11th and Nuremberg in 14th and if the betting is anything to go by there should be little to separate the pair when the Bundesliga 2 makes its return this weekend.

That was the case when the sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Max-Morlock Stadion in October and, in an outcome that would again benefit both teams, it is easy to see a repeat scenario. Three of the last five meetings have finished all-square.

Some 73 per cent of St Pauli’s 30-point total have been picked up at home, with them losing only one of their eight clashes since October, while Nuremberg are unbeaten in three on their travels.

St Pauli looking for another fast start

No side has been more productive in the opening 45 minutes than St Pauli, who have scored 20 of their 33 goals in the first half and been ahead at the break in ten of their 25 games.

The hosts also resume their season unbeaten in four games, albeit they have been held to draws at home by Karlsruher, Bochum and Dynamo Dresden – three of the division’s bottom four clubs.

Nuremberg improving on their travels

Nuremberg have become tougher to beat on the road since November’s appointment of Jens Keller with their only two defeats in six away outings coming against heavyweights Stuttgart and Hamburg.

During that time, Nuremberg have kept clean sheets on trips to Greuther Furth, Osnabruck and Karslruher and it appears Keller, a former Bundesliga defender, has tightened them up considerably.

This is also a fixture that has lacked goals over the years. All six recent meetings between the sides have featured three or fewer, so backing the sides to take a point apiece in a low-scoring match makes plenty of appeal.