Darmstadt 98 host Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday evening (November 1st, 8:30pm) for a floodlit match at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. This means that the second-best attack in the 2. Bundesliga will face the second-best defence in the competition. We've compiled these and other statistics for you in this report. Here you'll find the top facts about the match between SV Darmstadt 98 and Arminia Bielefeld.
It sounds unusual: The days are getting shorter, the sky is turning grayer, the rain is increasing. It’s autumn – and we’re almost in November. But for SV Darmstadt 98, this has historically meant one thing above all: stealing points from their opponents. The Lilies haven’t lost any of their last eleven second-division matches in November. With nine wins and two draws, SV 98 has an absolute favourite month. Their last November defeat was five years ago against Erzgebirge Aue (a 3-0 loss).
Darmstadt 98 have conceded just seven goals in the current second division season, and goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen has only been beaten twice in the last five matches. The Lilies‘ number one has kept a clean sheet in five games, a feat unmatched by any other team. The South Hessians also boast the second-best defence in the league overall, having already recorded more clean sheets at this early stage of the season than in the entire previous campaign. This is further underscored by the individual statistics of their defenders. Matej Maglica and Aleksandar Vukotić are among the strongest tacklers in the second division, each winning 71 percent of their duels. Furthermore, Marcel Schuhen has saved 79 percent of the shots on his goal – ranking third among first-choice goalkeepers in the second division.
Darmstadt’s much-praised defence will need to be especially vigilant this Saturday evening. Arminia Bielefeld is the only team in the 2. Bundesliga to have scored in every single one of their matches. They have beaten opposing goalkeepers 19 times – a tally surpassed only by Elversberg (22). The last time DSC fans failed to celebrate a goal was in early February of this year – back when they were still in the 3. Liga against SV Sandhausen.
Both teams have their strengths at set pieces. Darmstadt are experts at defending, while Arminia Bielefeld are more dangerous from dead-ball situations than any other team. Arminia have already scored seven goals from set pieces. Kniat’s team has found the net twice each from corners and free kicks, and three times from penalties. However, against Darmstadt, Bielefeld expects a solid defence in their core strength. Darmstadt are the only second-division team that has yet to concede a goal from a set piece this season.
When it comes to fair play, SV 98 is the place to be. While the blue-and-white clad team committed an average number of fouls, none of them were particularly reckless. Referees showed the fewest yellow cards (13) to Kohfeldt’s players. In contrast, Arminia Bielefeld’s players received the second-highest number of red cards after Braunschweig, with two. However, they are the ones who have been fouled the most – 147 fouls have been recorded against them so far.
A look back: It’s the 2013/14 season – and SV Darmstadt 98, then in the third division, is facing second-division side Arminia Bielefeld in the relegation play-offs. The first leg at the Bölle stadium ended in a 3-1 defeat, and the frustration was immense. But the second leg couldn’t have been more dramatic. After 90 minutes, the scoreboard showed the same score as just a few days earlier. The game went into extra time. Then came the 110th minute – a moment of panic: Bielefeld scored to make it 2-3. The clock was ticking. And every Darmstadt supporter grew increasingly nervous. But then: Just two minutes into stoppage time, the ball fell to Elton da Costa, who didn’t hesitate and fired a shot from 20 metres. The deflected ball nestled into the bottom right corner. Now there was no stopping them. SVD was back in the second division!
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
|
Home |
12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 26:19 |
|
Away |
12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9:20 |
|
Total |
24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 35:39 |
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.