SV Darmstadt will host Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday. This weekend, the Bavarians will visit Hesse after thrashing Mainz 05 8-1 in their most recent match. The Bavarians crushed the Lilies 8-0 in the rematch in October.
Preview (SV Darmstadt 98 vs. Bayern Munich)
Torsten Lieberknecht, the Darmstadt manager, thought that his team’s seven starting lineup changes following their humiliating 6-0 home loss to Augsburg, which infuriated the club’s supporters, would prompt a response from his team in their trip to RB Leipzig last Saturday. The Lilies, however, got off to the worst possible start at the Red Bull Arena. Thomas Isherwood put the ball in his net within the first three minutes. Five minutes into the half, Christoph Baumgartner doubled Leipzig’s lead. It condemned the visitors to their 16th league loss of the year.
Darmstadt is still at the bottom of the standings, 12 points outside of safety. Their losing streak has now reached 18 games, a club record. Since the last six clubs with fewer than 13 points after 25 games were all demoted, Lieberknecht’s team will have an uphill battle to escape an early promotion to the second division. With nine games remaining in the season against the Billy Goats, VfL Bochum in 15th place. The Lilies still have hope since they are only four points behind FC Koln in the relegation playoff spot (16th).
Though they drew 1-1 in their very first meeting back in 1978, Darmstadt has lost all seven of their meetings with Bayern going into this difficult match on Saturday. However, they can find some solace in the fact that their Bavarian opponents have lost their last four away games. Bayern Munich appeared to have put their mini-slump behind them after winning only one in their previous four Bundesliga games. They made a strong comeback last weekend, defeating Mainz 8-1. Harry Kane’s hat-trick heroics made history that afternoon. He became the first player to ever score four trebles in his first Bundesliga season. His 30 goals in the top flight now tie Uwe Seeler’s record.
Team News
Bryan Holland (concussion) will be evaluated before kickoff. Darmstadt’s Marvin Mehlem (broken leg), Matthias Bader (hamstring), Fraser Hornby, Clemens Riedel, Fabian Nurnberger (all ankle), and Brendan Manu (fitness) are all still in the treatment room. Matej Maglica suffered a slight injury during training, which kept him out of the match against Leipzig. However, he should be back this weekend and might play in a back three with Christoph Klarer, either Christoph Zimmermann or Klaus Gjasula.
In centre midfield, Emir Karic might be called up to partner with Bartol Franjic and Tobias Kempe, while in attack, Oscar Vilhelmsson and Fabio Torsiello will try to hold off challenge from Sebastian Polter and Lucian Pfeiffer. Turek Buchmann (thigh), Bouna Sarr (both knees), Kingsley Coman (knee), and Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring) will all be out for Bayern prior to kickoff.
After losing a few of his front teeth in the victory over Mainz, Alphonso Davies will also be evaluated; if necessary, Raphael Guerreiro could be asked to start at left-back. After serving a one-match suspension, Aleksandar Pavlovic is eligible to play again. He will challenge Konrad Laimer for a starting position in midfield, and the attacking quartet of Leroy Sane, Muller, Musiala, and Kane will continue to play together.
SV Darmstadt 98 0-4 Bayern Munich
For more football previews, click here
