SV Darmstadt 98 - Fortuna Düsseldorf

A match between teams with different aims before the season. Newcomer Darmstadt want to try to remain in 2.Bundesliga after this season but they showed a really great play to begin of the season and they collected 15 points out of 8 matches and they are near the top. Of course this is not their goal, they want only keep things easy and stay away from relegation battle now and in the end anyway. While Düsseldorf started very slow and had some problems to begin but they managed to get out of this and they are on a good way now. With 13 Points they are close to the top and they have to push if they want to get more involved in promotion race but it is only important in the end of the season but the gap should not to big. They speak from promotion and this can be some pressure maybe but all are working professional and they do the job at the moment.

We can say clean sheet for Darmstadt so far, they played four times at home and they won four times but if you take a look at their opponents so far it was not top team there till now. Of course great success for them and they are doing very well. This time they have the first hard test there, the stadium is sold out and the atmosphere is great. Nevertheless Coach Schuster counts on the same starting lineup as last week in Berlin. The only open position is central midfield where Behrens is back from injury and he can replace Jungwirth there again. Under the week they signed a new player Balogun who played last season for Fortuna but he is no option as he is not fully fit at the moment and in this case only on bench if.

The starting lineup from Fortuna Düsseldorf is still open as they have some problems with doubtful players like Schauerte, Pinto and Schmitz. They may face a late test and decides then if they are able to stand on the pitch for a hard fight. But Schmitz was replaced from Bellinghausen very well last weekend against RB Leipzig and should be no problem if he is not available. If Schmitz is ready Bellinghausen move forward and Halloran has to let him the offensive wing position. Both other players are key in my eyes and this can be a problem. They must change a lot and if they can be replaced is a big question mark as they have a lot of quality and they are very important for Düsseldorf's play at the moment. In attack Hoffer has some problems in the past and Pohjanpalo scored three goals what gives him some advantage and allow Coach Reck to sit Hoffer on bench.