German Bundesliga
2009-05-28 - Energie Cottbus vs FC Nurnberg
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Bundesliga Promotion - Relegation Playoff
Freundschaft Stadion,
Thursday, 28th May 2009 - Kickoff 18:00
Energie Cottbus
Energie have won the last match in the Bundesliga against Bayer Leverkusen in front of their own fans and should thank Hannover for the away draw against Arminia last week which gave them hope for survival in the Bundesliga.
The win meant that Cottbus rose to 16th place in the Bundesliga I and avoided direct relegation, instead they will take part in the play-off which was more than expected.
It is not the first time for Cottbus to be in similar position, and they somehow find way to stay up.
Coach Bojan Prasnikar demands discipline from his players in the last two matches stressing the fact that the play-off is a real gift for the team that was one point away to be relegated.
The Slovenian Coach was hired during the previous midseason with one goal – to avoid relegation, and he saved the team. Will they be lucky again?
The team knows that they must win the match-up against Nurnberg, which is far from being easy.
Their best striker Dimitar Rangelov is out of this match due to injury, but Ivica Iliev is back in the attack. There are reports that Rangelov might play in the second-leg in Nurnberg this Sunday.
Midfielders Mariusz Kukielka (thigh) and Stanislav Angelov (back muscles) are still doubtful for this match.
However, offensive line-up with three strikers is expected with Romanian international Jula, Iliev and Jelic upfront.
Energie does not have very bad record against Nurnberg and actually have lost only once at home which is good motivation for the team.
Da Silva, Adi and Muller are out of this match due long time injuries.
FC Nurnberg
Freiburg and Mainz have been promoted to the Bundesliga first division while Nurnberg finished just three points behind Mainz; therefore they have to play two more games in order to get in the elite.
Nurnberg last year have dropped from the Bundesliga in the last round, and now they have a great chance to get back quickly.
Nurnberg have kept the same squad from the season when they were in the Bundesliga and that is good for the team. Zvezdan Misimovic joined Wolfsburg after having a great season with Nurnberg.
The team has the top striker in the 2.Bundesliga – the Slovakian international Marek Mintal who has scored 16 times. Interesting is that he is a midfielder and still the best scorer in the league.
The team captain Andreas Wolf is definitely out due to a knee injury, underwent a surgery and expects a long recovery.
The team will also play offensively with two strikers - Eigler and Fuchs with Marek Mintal just behind them. Bunjaku, Wolf and Stephan are not traveling with the squad.
The betting verdict
Last year both matches between these sides ended in identical 1-1 draws, and four out of last six matches between these sides were drawn.
I think that both sides will want to win and will attack, but the overall winner will be decided in the return game at Nurnberg on Sunday.
The Statistics
Energie Cottbus last six home form :
23-05-09 Energie Cottbus 3 - 0 Bayer Leverkusen
13-05-09 Energie Cottbus 0 – 1 Borussia M'gladbach
09-05-09 Energie Cottbus 1 – 3 Bayern München
26-04-09 Energie Cottbus 2 - 0 VfL Wolfsburg
11-04-09 Energie Cottbus 2 - 1 Arminia Bielefeld
21-03-09 Energie Cottbus 0 – 2 1. FC Koln
FC Nurnberg last six away form :
17-05-09 FC Hansa Rostock 0 - 0 FC Nurnberg
10-05-09 SpVgg Greuther Fürth 1 – 1 FC Nurnberg
26-04-09 FSV Frankfurt 2 – 1 FC Nürnberg
09-04-09 SC Rot Weiss Oberhausen 0 - 3 FC Nurnberg
23-03-09 SC Freiburg 0 - 1 FC Nurnberg
09-03-09 MSV Duisburg 2 - 2 FC Nurnberg
Head to Head Energie Cottbus v. FC Nurnberg :
24-02-08 FC Nurnberg 1 - 1 Energie Cottbus
01-09-07 Energie Cottbus 1 - 1 FC Nurnberg
18-02-07 FC Nurnberg 1 - 0 Energie Cottbus
24-09-06 Energie Cottbus 1 - 1 FC Nurnberg
20-02-04 Energie Cottbus 1 - 3 FC Nurnberg
25-08-03 FC Nurnberg 2 – 2 Energie Cottbus
The Pick :
Energie Cottbus 2-2 FC Nurnberg (or 1-1)
