Match Preview vs SV Darmstadt 98

Opponents Focus: 

A 2-0 victory over basement side FC Ingolstadt last time out, propelled Torsten Lieberknecht’s side to the top of the 2.Liga table once again this season. 

Darmstadt are another side that have grown from strength to the strength since the last time the played HSV in league action. A truly impressive side this season with sights firmly set on finishing in one of the top three places. 

Most of the success of the side from Hessen comes from being a well oiled machine, though its hard to look past the striking power they boast at their disposal.  Both Luca Pfeiffer and Phillip Titz have notched 12 goals this season meaning more than half of the teams goals come from their new acquisitions. Daniel Heuer Fernandes will need to continue is top, top form to keep both of these danger man quiet come Sunday.

The Match Facts : 

Best attack against best defence

The main reason for SV Darmstadt 98's strong performance so far (see above) is closely linked to the names Luca Pfeiffer and Philip Tietz. The two brawny centre-forwards have already scored twelve goals each and are thus responsible for more than half (53 percent) of Darmstadt's goals this season. In the last four games, however, the duo went empty-handed, and HSV also has the best defence in the league to counter this. Captain Schonlau & Co have conceded just as many goals in 20 second division games. 

All good things come in threes 

If you include the cup games, HSV have already managed to win two in a row three times during the 2021/22 season. In September, the series ended with a 2:2 against 1. FC Nürnberg, in October the 1:1 against Holstein Kiel prevented the third strike, and at the beginning of December it was even a 0:1 defeat in Hannover. Darmstadt now offers the fourth chance - after the successes in Cologne (5:4 n.E.) and in the city derby (2:1) - to finally record three victories in a row. Full speed ahead!

Positive Böllenfalltor Record 

In eight encounters at Böllenfalltor, there have been three draws and five HSV away wins, meaning the Lilien have yet to celebrate a home victory against the Rothosen. But in recent years, the visitors from Hessen have also tended to cheer at the Volksparkstadion: Since 2015, Darmstadt have won four and drawn two in Hamburg, while HSV's last home victory came more than 40 years ago. In November 1981, the scoreboard showed a 6:1 after the final whistle.