RB Leipzig – SV Darmstadt 98
During the week, it was Champions League and Europa League for some Bundesliga clubs. This weekend, the league continues with the 25th matchday on the agenda. On Saturday afternoon, RB Leipzig will host SV Darmstadt 98. Find out who will win this clash and which bets are worthwhile in our Leipzig – Darmstadt betting tip.
Leipzig were eliminated from the top flight during the week. They put in a more than decent performance at Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, but were unable to make up for their 1-0 defeat in the first leg. After a goal in regulation but disallowed in the first leg and a disallowed red card for Real in the second leg, the Red Bulls are somewhat at odds with the refereeing.
However, the focus is now on the Bundesliga, as the Champions League qualification project is far from over. Meanwhile, Darmstadt’s hopes of staying in the league are fading. On the last matchday, they conceded a 6-0 defeat to Augsburg after a disastrous performance. It will take a miracle and a winning streak for the Lilies to play in the first division again next year
Leipzig – Darmstadt info
- Date & Time: 09.03.2024, 15:30 hrs.
- Playing venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
- Competition: Bundesliga, 25th matchday
- TV broadcast/livestream: Sky
Leipzig Form & Balance Check
After being knocked out of the Champions League, Leipzig can now concentrate fully on the Bundesliga. Last weekend saw a 4:1 win against VfL Bochum, in which the Red Bulls scored three goals in the space of ten minutes to quickly decide the game.
RB have picked up six points from their last three league games and are currently in fifth place with 43 points. The Saxons would therefore not qualify for next year’s top flight. BVB in fourth place are one point ahead. Leipzig cannot afford to slip up in this neck-and-neck race
Openda still to keep?
Leipzig striker Loïs Openda is having an outstanding season. He scored his 17th goal of the season in the last league game and has scored a strong six goals in the nine games since the winter break. Even though the top scorer’s crown will almost certainly go to Bayern’s Harry Kane, the signing of the Belgian, who joined from RC Lens in the summer, has more than paid off.
His contract runs until June 2028, so if he maintains this level or even improves, some of the really big clubs will surely come knocking at RB’s door this summer and try to poach the 24-year-old
Leipzig facts & analysis
- Fifth place in the table
- Last league game won
- One point behind the Champions League places
Darmstadt Form & Balance Check
SV Darmstadt now face an almost impossible task to stay in the league. The 6-0 defeat against Augsburg last weekend was the 17th game in a row without a win. The Lilies have only won twice this season and are bottom of the league with 15 defeats.
However, there is still a little hope, as the competition in the basement is also particularly weak this year. Despite the negative streak, they are only four points behind the relegation places. However, they are already twelve points clear of the drop zone
Ultra firing speech as a wake-up call?
After the disastrous game against Augsburg, there was an unusual scene on the pitch. The Darmstadt players gathered in a semi-circle in front of the fan stand and had to listen to an ultras who had climbed over the fence and was vehemently shouting at the team.
The atmosphere was confusing and some critical voices said afterwards that the fan scene had gone too far. However, the players and officials called the action “absolutely fine” and said that it had created a positive atmosphere and must now serve as a wake-up call for the rest of the season
Darmstadt facts & analysis
- Last of the table
- Last game lost
- Not won in 17 games
After the exhausting game in the Champions League during the week, we expect one or two changes to Leipzig’s starting eleven. In the 4-2-2-2 system, Yussuf Poulsen could once again start from the beginning. We also expect Kevin Kampl in central midfield in the first eleven. The strong full-backs Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum could get a break and be replaced by Mohamed Simakan and Christopher Lenz.
The Lilies could also adjust their line-up slightly compared to last weekend. Jannik Müller will be replaced in the back three by Christoph Zimmermann. In the 3-4-1-2, Tim Skarke will move from forward to the flank and Sebastian Polter and Luca Pfeiffer will form a front two. Gerrit Holtmann and Oscar Vilhelmsson are attacking options from the bench
Leipzig – Darmstadt head-to-head & stats
RB Leipzig and SV Darmstadt have only faced each other seven times in their club history. In addition to three Bundesliga matches and two Bundesliga 2 games, the teams have even met in the 3rd division. The direct comparison clearly goes to the red bulls, who have won a total of six games. The Lilies’ last and only victory was almost ten years ago. The very first match took place in 2013. Leipzig won that third-division match 1:0. It remains to be seen whether Darmstadt can take revenge for their 3:1 defeat in the first leg this season.
Direct comparison (H2H)
