SV Darmstadt 98 – 1. FC Köln
The 13th matchday of the Bundesliga is just around the corner and once again promises some groundbreaking games. It feels like the international break was only yesterday, but the teams are now facing the short winter break with four matchdays left before the winter break. So there are still some chances to pick up a few points before Christmas and enjoy a relaxed holiday season. Find out who will walk off the pitch victorious in this clash and who will lose out in our Darmstadt – Cologne betting tip.
SV Darmstadt and 1. FC Köln will kick off the matchday on Friday evening. The basement duel between the two clubs promises to be exciting, as both teams are in desperate need of a win. FC have been bottom of the table again since the last matchday and, despite improved performances in recent games, are still struggling to score. Darmstadt are also in the thick of the relegation battle and are just three points ahead of Cologne. It therefore promises to be a match of equals in which the two teams will give each other nothing.
Darmstadt – Cologne info
- Date & Time: 01.12.2023, 20:30 hrs.
- Playing venue: Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, Darmstadt
- Competition: Bundesliga, matchday 13
- TV broadcast: DAZN
Darmstadt Form & Balance Check
As expected, Darmstadt are fighting to stay in the top flight this season. The Lilies are currently 15th in the table with a goal difference of 15:33. After twelve games, they have two wins, three draws and seven defeats. This means that Darmstadt are just one point ahead of the relegation places and two points clear of a direct relegation spot.
Coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team recently scored points with two draws in a row against Freiburg and Mainz. Before that, however, they also suffered three defeats against Bochum, Bayern and Leipzig. A three-pointer against Cologne would be incredibly important from the Lilies’ point of view, otherwise Darmstadt could slip back into the relegation places
Defence stabilized
Darmstadt’s defense has been catastrophic at times this season, and the Lilies have by far the worst defense in the league with 33 goals conceded. Recently, however, the team has shown significant improvement and coach Lieberknecht seems to have worked on the defense in particular in recent weeks.
In the 0-0 draw against Mainz, the Lilies did not concede a goal for the first time this season and their defensive performance was also much improved in Freiburg. Despite a number of absentees, such as injured keeper Marcel Schuhen and Christoph Klarer, who is suspended with a yellow card, the squad remained focused and attentive. Against Cologne, the Lilies will be aiming to stay safe at the back and keep a clean sheet if possible
Darmstadt facts & analysis
- 15th place in the Bundesliga table
- Two draws recently
- First game without conceding a goal this season
Cologne Form & Balance Check
Cologne are currently bottom of the Bundesliga with just six points from their first twelve games. Their record does not look great and FC have only managed one win so far. There have also been three draws and eight defeats. As a result, Cologne are two points behind the relegation places and three points off the safety zone.
However, the Rhinelanders have already played against strong teams such as Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig and Leverkusen and have four clashes with direct relegation rivals Darmstadt, Mainz, Union Berlin and Heidenheim ahead of them in the final spurt of the first half of the season. This gives Steffen Baumgart’s team the chance to make up some ground and climb a few places in the table after all
Baumgart can draw from the full
In the upcoming clash with the Lilies, FC coach Baumgart can call on a full squad. Although regular Jeff Chabot was still missing from training at the start of the week, he was probably only resting for regeneration reasons and will be fully fit to face Darmstadt. Chabot has been in the starting eleven in all of Cologne’s competitive matches so far.
Another positive development from Cologne’s perspective is the return of Jacob Christensen, who returned to team training this week. The summer signing has yet to play a competitive match for FC due to injury. As a result, Cologne now have more options again in the number six position, which has recently often been taken over by attacking player Florian Kainz
Cologne facts & analysis
- Currently bottom of the Bundesliga table
- Goal ratio of 9:24
- With a win, Cologne could draw level on points with Darmstadt
Predicted line-up – last update on November 29, 2023
We expect Darmstadt to play with a similar formation to the one we used against Freiburg in the last match. The 3-4-2-1 system worked better recently. Alexander Brunst has deputized well for the injured regular keeper Schuhen, but should he be fit again, we expect him to return to the starting eleven.
Cologne play in a 3-5-2 system and have no reason to rotate much despite the defeat against Bayern. Jan Thielmann, who had to be substituted against Munich with cramp, should be fit again and form the front line alongside Davie Selke.
Darmstadt – Cologne head-to-head & stats
The two teams have met twelve times so far. Cologne have the better record, winning nine of them. The Lilies have won just one match and the teams have drawn twice. The first meeting was back in 1978, when FC won 2:1. The last time the two clubs faced each other in a second division match was in 2019. Darmstadt were able to win this match 2:1
- Cologne won more often
- Darmstadt could only celebrate one win against Cologne
- The last meeting in the Oberhaus was six years ago
