SV Darmstadt 98 – Union Berlin
This weekend the Bundesliga goes into the 2nd matchday. And on Saturday at 15:30 the German top flight then returns to the Böllenfalltor. The promoted team from Darmstadt will be facing one of the teams with the strongest form in their home opener. Our Darmstadt – Union tip will tell you whether the Lilien can pull off a surprise at home.
To make this surprise possible, however, the SVD must be particularly alert in the early stages. Because on the opening day of play, Union struck after just 52 seconds. That was a truly flying start and the fastest goal this season. For the team from Köpenick, it also meant the earliest goal in their Bundesliga history.
The early goal then ushered in a convincing victory for FCU. In the end, the Eisernen scored a convincing 4:1 victory. Darmstadt’s return to the Bundesliga was directly followed by the Hesse derby against Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite a strong performance by the Lilien, the final score was 1:0 for the SGE.
Darmstadt – Union Info:
- Date & Time: 26.08.2023, 15:30 hrs.
- Game Venue: Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, Darmstadt
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 2
- TV broadcast: Sky
Darmstadt form & balance check
Torsten Lieberknecht has formed Darmstadt 98 into a real top team in the past season. The Lilies played the entire season at the top and secured promotion from the 2. Bundesliga on the penultimate matchday of the past season.
However, the new season then got off to a maximally unfortunate start for the Lilies. Darmstadt lost 0:3 to regional league side Homburg in the first round of the cup, but the SVD then delivered a much better performance at the start of the first Bundesliga season since 2017. However, the team still suffered a 0:1 defeat against cup finalists Eintracht Frankfurt.
Darmstadt’s defense
Darmstadt’s successful performance last year was mainly based on solid defensive work. Over the entire season, goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen conceded just 28 goals and recorded an unblemished box 13 times. With only 33 goals conceded in total, the SVD established the strongest defense in the entire 2nd Bundesliga.
In addition to Schuhen’s strong goalkeeping performance, however, a solid defensive effort was also crucial to the low number of goals conceded. A crucial anchor in the defense last season was Patric Pfeiffer. However, the 24-year-old center back is lacing up his boots for rivals Augsburg this season, leaving a big hole in the defense.
Darmstadt facts & analysis
- In the preseason in 2nd place in the 2nd Bundesliga.
- Lost 0:1 against Frankfurt in the previous week.
- Only conceded 13 goals at home in the preseason
Union form & balance check
Union Berlin underwent a continuous evolution in recent years and successfully established itself in the Bundesliga top flight. Last season, FCU celebrated its greatest triumph to date. The Köpenicker finished the season in fourth place and thus secured a coveted spot in the Champions League.
In the opening round of the cup, the team showed a very solid performance under the leadership of coach Urs Fischer. Union showed no signs of weakness against the fourth-division team from Walldorf, winning convincingly 4-0. There was also no hesitation on the part of the Köpenickers in their Bundesliga opener against Mainz, where they took no prisoners with a 4-1 victory.
Behrens in the center
Union surprised in the week before last with two prominent new signings. The Köpenicker got reinforcement from two players who together have played over 31 games for the German national team. Robin Gosens moved from Inter Milan to Union. In addition, Kevin Volland ventured the jump to Köpenick. For the 31-year-old, this season marks his return to the Bundesliga after his move to Monaco in 2020.
On Matchday 1, however, the focus was on a man who played for a long time in the German Unterhaus and only really took off in the last second half of the season. Kevin Behrens scored his first treble in the Bundesliga at the age of 32. The striker scored all three goals with his head. The striker did not play his first game in the German top flight until 2021.
Union facts & analysis
- Last season in 4th place in the Bundesliga.
- Won 4:1 against Mainz in the previous week
- The best defense of the past Bundesliga season
Predicted lineup – last update on August 24, 2023
Darmstadt is expected to operate with a three-man backline again against Union. Returnee Luca Pfeiffer could move into the starting eleven for the Lilies. Braydon Manu could also provide danger with his speed from the start.
Union will probably go back to the 3-5-2 against Darmstadt. Coach Urs Fischer doesn’t have many reasons to change the team after the 4-1 win against Mainz. However, newcomer Robin Gosens could move into the starting lineup.
Darmstadt – Union direct comparison & statistics
Union have rarely looked good against Darmstadt so far. The Eisernen won only one of the six duels with the SVD. The Lilies, on the other hand, won three times in the direct duels. The last meeting between the two teams, back in 2019 still in the 2. Bundesliga, also ended 2-1 for Darmstadt.
- Union lost every game in Darmstadt so far.
- Union’s only win against Darmstadt was on 2018-12-01.
- The first duel between the two teams in the Bundesliga
