Numbers & Facts: The top facts about the Elversberg game

Last year, SV Elversberg finished third in the table, meaning they had to play in the relegation play-offs, where they lost to 1. FC Heidenheim. With four matchdays remaining this season, head coach Vincent Wagner’s team is once again in third place. In Saturday evening’s top match, Darmstadt 98 will be chasing them. As fifth-placed, they are five points behind Elversberg and can close the gap to two points with a win.

Despite a recent draw against Schalke and a defeat against Hannover 96, SV Darmstadt 98 remains in second place in the home table. The loss against the Lower Saxony side was their first home defeat of the season. Now they host SV Elversberg, who have had a balanced season with similar home and away records. However, the Saarlanders have only managed two points from their last three away matches. Will the South Hessians rediscover their form at home, or will Elversberg find their form away from home as well?

The results of both teams‘ attacking play are very similar. Both Darmstadt 98 and Elversberg have already found the back of the net 52 times – a joint-best tally with SC Paderborn. Darmstadt has scored 19 goals, while Elversberg has 18. Both teams also tend to increase their attacking output after halftime. Darmstadt has scored 32 goals in the second half, while the team from Saarland has netted 33. 29 of Darmstadt’s goals were created through passing, more than any other team, with Elversberg managing 28 of those goals.

So many parallels, yet there are differences. The third-placed team has already scored eleven goals from open play crosses; only Hertha Berlin has found the net more often this way. Darmstadt, on the other hand, has scored 17 times from set pieces. The team from southern Hesse also frequently starts matches with a furious burst of speed, having beaten the opposing goalkeeper nine times in the opening quarter of an hour. Elversberg, however, has scored 18 goals in the final quarter of an hour – more than any other team.

The average number of goals conceded in the current second division season is 44. Darmstadt 98 have an above-average defence with 37 goals conceded, while SV Elversberg also boasts a very strong back line with 32. And what are their attacking strengths? Elversberg likes to cross the ball, while Darmstadt often scores from set pieces, including corners – they’ve already scored nine times from corners, the second-best record in the league. And defensively? Elversberg has only conceded two goals from corners so far. Darmstadt, on the other hand, has been very solid with crosses from open play. The spectators at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor can look forward to seeing which team will best utilise their strengths on the pitch this Saturday evening.

SV Elversberg’s position in the top three after Matchday 30 is well-deserved. They’ve created numerous clear-cut chances (57, second only to Hannover with 58). Their strong attacking play consistently generates opportunities, resulting in 43 goals from open play – the best in the league. Despite this league position and the highest goal tally, they only rank 16th in the finishing efficiency statistics.

Darmstadt 98 also boasts the highest goal tally, but they too have been unlucky in front of goal. It almost feels like they hit the woodwork in every match. They’ve now struck the woodwork 18 times. Most recently against Fürth, Isac Lidberg’s shot once again rattled the opponent’s goal.

Three Darmstadt players have received four yellow cards this season. Fraser Hornby, Merveille Papela, and Aleksandar Vukotic would miss the next match if they receive another yellow card.