Nurnberg vs 1860 Munich Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Nurnberg were unlucky not to be playing top flight football this season after their 2-1 aggregate defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in the playoffs at the end of last season. For a side that finished third last year, it’s surprising that Nurnberg stated that their target going forward wasn’t to push themselves to be promotion contenders. Perhaps this somewhat pessimistic mentality is cause for their uncharacteristically poor start to the season, which has seen them without a win in their first three matches. Nurnberg drew 1-1 away to Dynamo Dresden in their opener before another 1-1 draw at home to FC Heidenheim in the second. Not awful results by any means. However, Nurnberg fell to pieces last time out against the (now) league leaders Eintracht Braunschweig which saw them lose a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute to go 2-1 behind by the half time whistle. Braunschweig toyed with them in the second half and the eventual 6-1 defeat at the final whistle was something to be embarrassed about.

1860 Munich have been struggling and involved in the relegation fight over the past two seasons, but are firm 2. Bundesliga veterans at this point. Munich have set a much more down to earth season goal of survival, which makes sense given they finished just two points above the relegation zone last season and haven’t invested too much over the summer. Though they lost 1-0 in their opener to Greuther Furth, a 1-0 win at home to Arminia Bielefeld and a 0-0 draw away to Karlsruher SC has seen them take four points from their opening three matches and they now stand comfortably in the middle of the table. Munich also drew to Karslruher at home in the first round of the DFB Pokal (German League Cup), where they got themselves through to the second round with a 2-1 win.

Nurnberg against 1860 Munich is a “traditional” duel between the two oldest teams in the 2. Bundesliga and it has never failed to be an entertaining affair over recent records. Munich are now thirteen years without a win in Nurnberg, however, which adds further reason for the hosts to be the bookies’ favourites here. While Nurnberg to win at 1/1 is certainly not a bad price, we feel both teams to score is an equally decent price and likely a safer bet here. Especially when considering the likely reduced morale of the Nurnberg side after a 6-1 defeat. Both teams have scored in eight of the nine most recent meetings between Nurnberg and 1860 Munich, and Nurnberg have won 2-1 twice and drawn 2-2 once in the last three at home against them. Considering this historical trend favouring Nurnberg, who are also the stronger side on paper, with the fact that both teams have scored in all seven of Nurnberg’s last seven matches across all competitions (three league, one cup, and three club friendlies) and a clear enough trend follows suit. Nurnberg don’t struggle to score goals, but they do struggle to keep a clean sheet.

As such, both teams to score at 4/5 and Nurnberg to win 2-1 at 15/2 are our choice bets for this match.