Darmstadt host Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday, looking to boost their survival hopes with a positive result at home.
Darmstadt are at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, with just 10 points from 16 league matches ahead of the visit of Borussia Dortmund. A win here could lift them out of the relegation zone, provided the other results go their way.
Darmstadt are winless in their last six league matches, and they will have to improve immensely in order to grind out all three points here. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are fifth in the league table, and they have picked up just one win from their last six league matches.
The Black and Yellows have dropped out of the top-four positions and cannot afford to slip up anymore if they want to play in the Champions League next season. This will be a must-win contest for them, and it remains to be seen whether the players can step up and deliver.
Team News & Tactics
Darmstadt
The home team will be without the services of Marvin Mehlem, who has been ruled out for several months with a fractured fibula. Fraser Hornby and Braydon Manu are ruled out with ankle injuries. Aaron Seydel has picked up a calf injury.
They are likely to shape up in a 3-4-1-2 formation here, with Marcel Schuhen in goal. In the back three, Matej Maglica will start alongside Jannik Muller and Christoph Klarer. Matthias Bader and Fabian Nurnberger will start as the wing-backs, and they will look to protect the central defenders and contribute in the attack as well during transitions.
Fabian Holland and Tobias Kempe will start in central midfield. They will look to keep things compact and break up opposition attacks. Bartol Franjic will start as the number ten, and he will look to open up the Dortmund attack with his incisive passing and link-up play with the strikers. Tim Skarke will lead the line for the hosts along with Luca Pfeiffer.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Schuhen; Maglica, Muller, Klarer; Bader, Holland, Kempe, Nurnberger; Franjic; Skarke, Pfeiffer
Borussia Dortmund
The away side will be without Julian ryerson because of a knee injury. Felix Nmecha is ruled out with a hip injury, and Karim Adeyemi is recovering from an ankle problem. Julien Duranville misses out with a muscle injury, while Ramy Bensebaini and Sebastien Haller are away on international duty.
The away side will shape up in a 4-1-3-2 formation, with Gregor Kobel in goal. Thomas Meunier and Nico Schlotterbeck will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Mats Hummels will start at the heart of the defence along with Niklas Sule.
Emre Can will be the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to mop up opposition attacks and win the ball back for his team. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Marcel Sabitzer, and Marco Reus will start in the advanced midfield positions, and they will look to add creativity and control to the side.
Reus and Bynoe-Gittens will add flair and technical ability to the side as well. Finally, Niclas Fullkrug will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund against Darmstadt alongside Donyell Malen.
Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Kobel; Meunier, Hummels, Sule, Schlotterbeck; Can; Reus, Sabitzer, Bynoe-Gittens; Fullkrug, Malen
Key Stats
- Darmstadt have failed to win their last nine matches in the Bundesliga.
- 15 goals have been scored in the last four matches between these two sides.
- Borussia Dortmund are winless in five of their last six Bundesliga matches.
- Borussia Dortmund are unbeaten in three of their last four matches against Darmstadt.
- Darmstadt have conceded nine goals in their last five matches in the Bundesliga.
- Borussia Dortmund have conceded in each of their last four matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Marco Reus
The 34-year-old German attacker is our key player to watch out for. He has five goals and two assists to his name across all competitions this season, and Borussia Dortmund will look to him for creativity and goals in the final third.
Marco Reus has the experience and the quality to open up the home side with his creativity and link-up play. Dortmund will need him to step up and deliver if they want to grind out all three points here.
Prediction
Darmstadt 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund are undoubtedly the better team here, and they should be able to grind out all three points. Darmstadt are on a winless run, and they are lacking in form and confidence right now.
Although the away side have not been much better in recent weeks, they have the better set of players and they will be desperate for a win here. The gulf in quality between the two sides should see the visitors come away with a narrow win.