1. FC Magdeburg vs 1. FC Kaiserslautern

1. FC Magdeburg head into this fixture brimming with belief after collecting 9 points from a possible 15 in their last 5. Their attacking output stands at 11 goals in 5 matches, and they have kept 3 clean sheets in that period.

Now to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, whose recent form offers a separate set of clues about how this one could play out. 1. FC Kaiserslautern are in impressive form with 3 wins, 2 draws and 0 defeats from their last 5 outings. With 8 goals in their last 5, their attack has been a real threat, while defensively they have conceded relatively few (0.4 per game). The recent head-to-head between 1. FC Magdeburg and 1. FC Kaiserslautern has been a competitive affair, with wins and draws traded in fairly equal measure. 6 recent meetings have produced 22 goals in total, underlining that this tie tends to be an open, adventurous affair.

With both teams averaging over 2.2 goals per game recently, this fixture has the hallmarks of an open, entertaining contest. The attacking quality on both sides suggests we could see goals at both ends. This is a difficult one to call, with both sides evenly matched on recent form. The game could hinge on a single moment of quality or a defensive lapse.

With both sides showing flashes of quality, this could go either way. The team that executes their game plan better will prevail. With so little to separate these sides, it could come down to which team wants it more on the day. The stage is set in the 2. Bundesliga; kick-off cannot come soon enough.