SV Darmstadt 98 - Eintr. Braunschweig

Another draw seems likely between these two

TEAM NEWS

Dirk Schuster’s Darmstadt have a full-strength side for this weekend clash, with Peter Niemeyer and Joel Mall the only three absentees.

Braunschweig have Julius Biada out injured while Joseph Baffo has suffered a knee injury and is unavailable, too. The side are missing two more players in Steve Breitkreuz and Christoffer Nyman.

Darmstadt

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Peter Niemeyer (foot), Joel Mall (shoulder)

Braunschweig

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Joseph Baffo (knee); Julius Biada, Steve Breitkreuz (both unspecified); Christoffer Nyman (adductor)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW

Despite earning a decent 0-0 draw with promotion-chasing Holstein Kiel away from home last Saturday, Darmstadt are in real trouble in the table. The Liles are 17^thgoing into this match and four points from safety. Although they are on a six-match unbeaten run they haven’t been able to gain much ground on the teams above them. As a result, this game is clearly a six-pointer and almost the last chance for them to avoid the worst case scenario this season – their second relegation in a row.

Two winless games in a row has dragged Braunschweig back into the mire in the 2. Bundesliga table. After beating Duisburg 3-2 at the Eintracht Stadium before the international break, the team could only follow that up with a 2-0 defeat away at Bochum and a 1-1 draw with Dresden on their own turf. Nevertheless, Eintracht remain three points above the bottom three with five games left to play and they are more than capable of staying in the second tier.

On paper, this looks to be heading for a draw. Darmstadt and Braunschweig have drawn a combined 24 times this season, and I can see them playing out another such result at the weekend.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW 

50% of their last six league meetings at Darmstadt have ended in 1-1 draws. Back another low-scoring draw at Bollenfalltor between this pair.

HEAD TO HEAD

Darmstadt have won four of their nine home meetings against Braunschweig, with the other matches ending in three draws and two defeats. The reverse fixture finished 2-2 at Eintracht Stadium last November.