Numbers & Facts: The top facts about the Braunschweig game

Darmstadt versus Braunschweig: first place versus fourteenth. However, looking solely at the table of the last eight matches paints a different picture: second place versus fifth! Braunschweig has only collected two fewer points than Darmstadt from their last eight games. While Eintracht Braunschweig has amassed 14 points, only Darmstadt and 1. FC Magdeburg (both with 16) have earned more.

Heiner Backhaus’s team has significantly improved its points tally, but a weakness remains in attack. Braunschweig has scored 23 goals so far, with only Fortuna Düsseldorf scoring fewer. Their expected goals (xG) of 25.5 are lower only than those of Greuther Fürth – and on average, the Lower Saxony side needs twelve shots to find the back of the net.

SV 98, on the other hand, is proving far more clinical. Every seventh shot brings joy to all the fans who support the Lilies. The 98ers have already experienced this moment 40 times in this second-division season – no other team has scored more goals.

Closely linked to this is their strength at set pieces. Their impressive goal tally also stems from the versatility of the South Hessian attack. Thirteen goals from set pieces is the best in the league, and in the second half of the season, Kohfeldt’s players have scored at least one goal from a set piece in every match so far. They’ve also occasionally found the back of the net from free kicks: four goals from direct free kicks is another league best.

In contrast, the Blue-Yellows haven’t scored from a set piece since matchday 15. Furthermore, they have only scored four times in total from a set piece.

While the team currently in 14th place still has room for improvement in attack, their defence is significantly more solid at set pieces. Of the 35 goals they’ve conceded, Braunschweig have only let in five from dead-ball situations. Only two other second-division teams defend set pieces more effectively: Schalke 04 have conceded just four goals from set pieces – the same number as Darmstadt.

Darmstadt have frequently managed to steal points from matches against Braunschweig or keep them at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The team from southern Hesse has amassed an impressive 19 points from their last ten encounters against the Lower Saxons.

However, looking solely at the last three meetings reveals a more balanced picture. Braunschweig’s only victory in the last ten matches is relatively recent. Almost exactly a year ago, when Darmstadt visited Eintracht Stadium, the hosts celebrated a win. The previous match ended in a draw, while Darmstadt narrowly won the first leg 2-1.

Nevertheless, Darmstadt traditionally struggles away from home in Braunschweig. In 13 matches, they have managed only two wins and suffered seven defeats, with a goal difference of 8-22.

It’s matchday five of the season. Eintracht Braunschweig are visiting the Böllenfalltor stadium. The score is 1-1. The clock shows the 84th minute – and Florian Kohfeldt makes a substitution: centre-back Matej Maglica comes on for Fraser Hornby.

Just two minutes later, Darmstadt are awarded a free kick – on the edge of the Eintracht penalty area. Maglica places the ball, waits for the referee’s whistle, takes a run-up, and unleashes a shot that reaches 132 km/h (80 mph) and finds the back of the net. No other goal in this second-division season has been scored at a higher speed. With that strike, he secured three points for Darmstadt.

Heiner Backhaus’s team has conceded 35 goals so far, while Marcel Schuhen has only had to pick the ball out of his net 22 times. Only two teams have conceded fewer goals than Darmstadt.

Eintracht Braunschweig’s opponents, meanwhile, have an expected goals (xG) of only 31.38, meaning they have conceded more goals than statistically expected. The opposite is true for SV Darmstadt 98: their opponents have an expected goals (xG) of 29.41, but their actual number of goals conceded is significantly lower.

Marco Richter and Fraser Hornby each have four yellow cards. Another booking would therefore result in a suspension.