Two groups at totally different spots on the Bundesliga desk conflict at Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor on Saturday as last-place SV Darmstadt 98 hosts league chief Bayer Leverkusen.
The house crew needs payback after a troublesome 5-1 loss at Leverkusen 5 months in the past.
Match preview
Darmstadt’s streak with no win within the Bundesliga prolonged to 12 video games after a detailed 1-0 loss to Union Berlin final weekend.
Benedict Hollerbach scored the sport’s solely purpose after the break, leaving Darmstadt on the backside of the desk and 6 factors from security.
Coach Torsten Lieberknecht faces stress to enhance the crew’s efficiency to keep away from dropping to the second tier. Darmstadt has solely 11 factors from 19 video games this season; they’d even fewer (9) at this level within the season they have been relegated from the highest flight.
Successful on Saturday appears unlikely for Darmstadt, as they’ve misplaced six out of their final seven Bundesliga video games towards Leverkusen, together with all three at residence.
Darmstadt hasn’t gained in 13 consecutive Bundesliga video games for the reason that 1981-82 season. They want a win on Saturday to keep away from matching this 42-year-old document. Their solely win towards Leverkusen was in September 2015, with a 1-0 victory away.
Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten begin to 2024 ended final weekend with a 0-0 draw at residence towards Borussia Monchengladbach regardless of having 75% possession and 28 pictures.
This was the primary time Xabi Alonso’s crew failed to attain since final Might, permitting Bayern Munich to slender the hole on the high to only two factors. Each groups will face off in an important match on the BayArena on February 10.
Leverkusen stays unbeaten in all competitions this season, not shedding any of their 28 matches. Their draw towards Monchengladbach tied a membership document for consecutive video games with no loss.
Alonso, rumored to be a candidate for Liverpool’s supervisor place, is assured his crew can win on Saturday. They’ve solely dropped 4 factors from 27 out there in away video games, conceding the fewest objectives within the league.
Leverkusen’s upcoming schedule consists of three video games towards groups within the backside three. Alonso is aware of these video games are essential for his or her title hopes.
SV Darmstadt 98 Bundesliga kind:
L L D L D L
Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga kind:
D W W W W D
Bayer Leverkusen kind (all competitions):
W W W W W D
Staff Information
Darmstadt is with out Marvin Mehlem (damaged leg), Mathias Honsak, Aaron Seydel (each calf), Fraser Hornby, and Braydon Manu (each ankle) as a consequence of accidents. Fabian Nurnberger and Clemens Riedel are uncertain after ankle accidents within the final sport.
Riedel’s attainable absence would possibly result in begins for Christoph Zimmermann or Matej Maglica at center-back. Emir Karic might begin on the left if Nurnberger isn’t match.
Julian Justvan, who joined Darmstadt on mortgage this month, is anticipated to maintain his spot in assault alongside Luca Pfeiffer and high scorer Tim Skarke, who has six objectives.
For Leverkusen, Victor Boniface (groin), Exequiel Palacios, and Arthur (each thigh) are out with accidents. Odilon Kossounou continues to be on the Africa Cup of Nations.
Edmond Tapsoba and Amine Adli would possibly return to the squad after their AFCON duties ended.
Goalkeeper Matej Kovar made his Bundesliga debut final sport however coach Alonso confirmed Lukas Hradecky will probably be again in purpose on Saturday.
SV Darmstadt 98 attainable beginning lineup:
Schuhen;
Zimmermann, Gjasula, Klarer;
Bader, Franjic, Holland, Karic;
Justvan, Skarke;
Pfeiffer
Bayer Leverkusen attainable beginning lineup:
Hradecky;
Stanisic, Tah, Hincapie;
Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo;
Hofmann, Wirtz;
Schick
Prediction: SV Darmstadt 98 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Regardless of the draw with Monchengladbach, Leverkusen ought to simply beat Darmstadt. They’re anticipated to win comfortably towards a Darmstadt crew that’s been struggling defensively, giving up greater than two objectives per sport on common within the Bundesliga this season.