On Friday, January 19, 2024, Bundesliga.2 comes out of the Christmas break, and the opening outsider will travel to meet a team that has a chance to both fight for promotion to the top division and be relegated to the lower one. Yes, our today’s prediction is dedicated to the Karlsruher vs Osnabrück match.
Before the season started, Karlsruher SC was regarded as a team that would put up a fight and cling to the Bundesliga. However, now KSC is quite far from such expectations.
Nothing much was expected from VfL Osnabrück, as the team had just returned to the second German division and was already at risk of relegation.
Karlsruher vs Osnabrück: What to Expect From The Teams
Karlsruher SC
The hosts gained momentum before the break and did not lose in 5 matches in a row. Yes, there were no outright championship leaders among the rivals, but the draws against Hertha (2:2), and Hannover (2:2) and victories against Nurnberg (4:1) and Elversberg (3:2) were quite powerful.
A home game against Elversberg was their last game in 2023 in Bundesliga.2. Karlsruher SC started as befits Christian Eichner’s team – scoring 2 goals in the first 16 minutes. First, Dženis Burnić scored, and 10 minutes later Budu Zivzivadze doubled KSC’s lead.
What could go wrong? Paul Wanner is the answer to this question. The visiting winger made a great play in the 29th minute, cutting the gap to 2-1 before the break.
The second half was reminiscent of the first half. Igor Matanović again restored Karlsruher’s two-goal lead early in the second half and seemed to have put all questions about the match winner to rest, but Paul Wanner came on the pitch again, this time assisting Luca Schnellbacher for a 3-2 lead in the first 18 minutes of the second half.
Then the teams played from goal to goal and created chances. Karlsruher should also thank the goal frame for this game, as it twice saved the hosts after shots from the opponent.
KSC kept the advantage and will go into the game Karlsruher vs Osnabrück in a good mood, although they are ranked 12th in Bundesliga.2.
VfL Osnabrück
Die Lila-Weißen can’t show anything this season and get out of the last place in the championship. The team alternates between a sensational victory against Hamburger (2:1) and a crushing defeat against Hannover (7:0). At the same time, losing to the main competitors in the fight for survival, such as the defeat of Eintracht Braunschweig (3:2) or the defeat of Schalke 04 (4:0), where it is necessary to get points as much as possible.
Fortunately, VfL Osnabrück still went into the break with points. At first, they managed to scrape out a 1-1 draw against St. Pauli, and in the last round before the Christmas break, they drew against Hertha (0-0).
A draw against the team from the capital can be called a good result, especially if you look at the statistics, according to which Berlin should have won 3 points. Osnabrück tried to dry up the game more and take at least something away from the German capital.
Strangely enough, it is their goalkeeper who stands out in Die Lila-Weißen’s lineup right now. Philipp Kühn has been playing mainly in the team’s cup matches, but he started the matches against St. Pauli and Hertha. Therefore, there is little doubt that the 31-year-old German will take his place in the goal for the match Karlsruher vs Osnabrück.
Karlsruher SC vs VfL Osnabrück: Head-to-Head
As for the head-to-head matches, the home team has the advantage, but Osnabrück is not exactly a whipping boy. The team has not lost by more than 1 goal since 2004.
| Karlsruher vs Osnabrück H2H | |||
| 2023/24 Season | |||
| Osnabrück VfL | 2 | 3 | Karlsruher SC |
| 2021/22 Season | |||
| Karlsruher SC | 0 | 1 | Osnabrück VfL |
| Osnabrück VfL | 1 | 2 | Karlsruher SC |
| 2021/22 Season | |||
| Karlsruher SC | 1 | 1 | Osnabrück VfL |
| Osnabrück VfL | 3 | 0 | Karlsruher SC |
Karlsruher – Osnabrück: Possible Lineups
The hosts’ Marvin Wanitzek remains injured, but the head coach of Karlsruher allowed the midfielder to play in friendly matches during the break, so maybe he should be counted on for a few minutes in the game Karlsruher SC vs VfL Osnabrück – this decision is up to the coach.
Before this game, Osnabrück lost right-back Bashkim Ajdini, an important player in the visitors’ lineup, but will miss the match due to suspension.
| Karlsruher – Osnabrück Lineups | ||
| Karlsruher SC | VfL Osnabrück | |
| Goalkeepers | Patrick Drewes | Philipp Kühn |
| Defenders | Philip Heise, Marcel Beifus, Marcel Franke, Sebastian Jung | Florian Kleinhansl, Maxwell Gyamfi, Niklas Wiemann, Henry Rorig |
| Midfielders | Paul Nebel, Dženis Burnić, Jérôme Gondorf, Lars Stindl | Robert Tesche, Dave Gnaase, Michaël Cuisance |
| Forwards | Igor Matanović, Budu Zivzivadze | Christian Joe Conteh, Noel Niemann, Erik Engelhardt |
Karlsruher vs Osnabrück: Match Prediction
Karlsruher SC is the favorite in this matchup, but if you think that this game will be a cakewalk for the hosts, you are very wrong.
VfL Osnabrück is clearly going for points; even one point will be a good result but do not assume that the guests will not go on the attack. If you give Osnabrück at least one chance to score, taking this victory away from them will be very difficult.
Karlsruher vs Osnabrück Prediction: Osnabrück Handicap +1 with odds at 1.91.
| The Match Prediction | ||
| Osnabrück Handicap +1 | ||
