As SV Darmstadt 98 seeks redemption from a three-match slump, they face Mainz 05 in a Bundesliga showdown on Saturday.
Match Preview:
Darmstadt finds themselves eager to bounce back after a 2-1 defeat to VfL Bochum.
Despite a promising start to the season, recent defensive vulnerabilities have hampered their progress.
They now face Mainz, who secured their first win against RB Leipzig, lifting them off the bottom of the table.
In the last encounter, Darmstadt faced a setback with Fabian Holland’s dismissal, impacting their resilience.
Torsten Lieberknecht’s squad aims to secure a victory against Mainz to stay clear of the relegation zone before the international break.
Mainz, buoyed by a surprising win against Leipzig, is eager to continue their momentum.
Lee Jae-sung and Leandro Barreiro played pivotal roles, securing a crucial win and lifting Mainz from the bottom of the table.
Team Form:
SV Darmstadt 98 Bundesliga Form: L, W, W, L, L, L
Mainz 05 Bundesliga Form: L, L, D, L, D, W
Mainz 05 All Competitions Form: L, D, L, D, L, W
Team News:
Darmstadt faces challenges with suspensions to key players like Holland. Injuries to Braydon Manu, Fabio Torsiello, and Aaron Seydel further limit their options. Bartol Franjic might step in, providing an opportunity to revamp the midfield.
Mainz navigates injury concerns with Burkardt, Bell, Guilavogui, Hanche-Olsen, and Weiper unavailable.
Edmilson Fernandes is expected to fill in for Guilavogui in defense. After a successful performance against Leipzig, minimal changes are anticipated.
Possible Starting Lineups:
SV Darmstadt 98:
- Schuhen;
- Zimmermann, Muller, Klarer;
- Bader, Kempe, Franjic, Nurnberger;
- Mehlem;
- Pfeiffer, Skarke
Mainz 05:
- Zentner;
- Van Den Berg, Leitsch, Fernandes;
- Da Costa, Barreiro, Kohr, Caci;
- Richter, Lee;
- Onisiwo
Prediction: Darmstadt 98 1-2 Mainz 05
Mainz, buoyed by their recent triumph, is likely to continue their upward trajectory. Darmstadt, grappling with suspensions and confidence issues, may struggle.
A narrow victory for Mainz is anticipated, leaving Darmstadt in the bottom three during the international break.