Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Nurnberg Predictions

After ending 2018 with three consecutive wins, including a surprise 2-1 win over Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund, Dusseldorf have, by their expectations, continued their encouraging form in 2019 so far. Coach Friedhelm Funkel will be ok with defeats such as last weekend’s 2-0 away to Leverkusen or the 4-0 one at home to RB Leipzig at the end of January as his side are getting results where they are supposed to. Seven points from five games since the winter break (W2 D1 L2) – wins coming against strugglers Augsburg and Stuttgart – sees them now ten points above the danger of the relegation zone.

Nurnberg are their opposition on Saturday, and this fixture is a crucial one for them. Michael Kollner’s men managed to hold league leaders Borussia Dortmund to an impressive 0-0 draw on Monday, but that doesn’t take away from the fact it’s been 16 games since they last recorded a win (D5 L11). Nurnberg were, at least, knocked out of the German cup in the third round at the start of February, so league survival is now the sole focus. However, that looks a tough ask. Even the return of star midfielder Hanno Behrens from injury – top scorer in their 17/18 promotion-winning season – is yet to be the answer.

Saturday’s meeting between Dusseldorf and Nurnberg sees last season’s promotees collide, and we feel, as meetings between them have been in the past, this game has goals in it. Only Hannover (47) and Stuttgart (50) have conceded more than Nurnberg (46), and interestingly, despite their contrasting league positions, the hosts’ numbers aren’t all that much better. Dusseldorf have conceded the 4th most goals of any Bundesliga side, also keeping just one clean sheet in their last five – that coming against the Bundesliga’s second weakest offense, Stuttgart. Nurnberg have failed to score in each of their last two league outings, but the first of these came away to Hannover, where they had a man sent off early, and the second came against Dortmund.

Before that, Nurnberg had scored a single goal in three consecutive games, and against a defence as mediocre as Dusseldorf’s, it’s not too much of a stretch to think they could return to scoring ways here. However, it would be unreasonable to expect them to replicate the sort of numbers that other sides have inflicted on them. Dusseldorf’s own scoring form has seen them score two goals or more in three of their last four home outings, including against league leaders Dortmund, and against a Nurnberg defense that has conceded the same number in each of their last eight away days, it’s hard not to fancy them to come away with the win. Our prediction: 2-1 Fortuna Dusseldorf.