Total over 2.5
Hanover
Before the start of each season of the second division, Hannover sets itself the task of promotion to the first division of the country, but the fourth draw in a row has not brought the desired result to the top. In the current championship, the team lacks the most important thing – balance in the game. With an expected 24.2 goals scored, the Reds allow the opposition to create 27.1 xg.
After the resumption of the season, Hannover lost alternately to Kaiserslautern (1: 3) and St. Pauli (0:2), thus confirming the reputation of the 5th from the back of the defense.
The main right-back, Phil Neumann, will be absent from the upcoming game. Most likely, this will lead to a change in structure and a move to a more vulnerable formation with 2 centre-backs.
Paderborn
Paderborn is the best team in the league. In terms of expected goals scored (xg = 38.7) and conceded (xga = 21.8), it ranks 1st and 3rd respectively.
As a result of a series of unsuccessful matches in the last calendar year, the club fell from the top of the table to 6th place. But after the holidays, team coach Łukasz Kwaśniek apparently worked on mistakes. His team alternately defeated Karlsruhe (1:0) and Fortuna Dusseldorf (4:1) in the opening matches.
Forecast
Given Hannover’s possible rebuilding in defense and Paderborn’s excellent form, I think the game could turn out to be an assist.