2. Bundesliga preview: SV Darmstadt 98 vs. Hannover 96

Sunday’s meeting pits two sides who were both largely involved in the promotion conversation last campaign, with both ultimately running out of steam and ensuring another season of 2. Bundesliga football is required for either club to reach the promised land of the top flight once more.

Having looked impressive for large spells of last season under Florian Kohfeldt, Darmstadt unfortunately do not appear to have the same spark about them right now. They could perhaps be forgiven for that, however, given the key departures they have faced over the summer.

Formidable strike duo Isac Lidberg and Fraser Hornby have both departed, with their combined 28 goals from last season now needing to be replaced. Other notable departures include Matej Maglica, Killian Corredor and Sergio López.

Despite picking up just one point from their opening two league fixtures, Darmstadt finally got back to winning ways in DFB-Pokal action last time out.

Goals from new signings Milan Smit and Lance Duijvestijn proved decisive in a 2-1 victory away to fourth-tier Carl Zeiss Jena.

Kohfeldt is looking forward to the challenge Hannover will pose on Sunday:

“It will be particularly exciting because they are a team with very, very good individual quality, even if they lost some individual quality during the summer break. Of course, they’ve also brought in players like Hartel and Hugonet, who represent the absolute top level in this league. And they have a very specific style of football that I generally really like.”

Hannover came even closer to promotion than their counterparts last season, but ultimately dropped out of the playoff spot on the final day despite having their destiny in their own hands.

They have also suffered departures over the summer, although arguably fewer key players than Darmstadt. However, replacements have not exactly arrived in the quantity that the fans would have hoped for.

Two disappointing defeats have kicked off their league campaign, first away to newly promoted Energie Cottbus before losing what many would have tipped as a top-of-the-table clash at home to Wolfsburg. Hannover have seemingly struggled to find their rhythm in the final third so far, much to the frustration of head coach Christian Titz.

Their Pokal exploits last weekend might have done them some good in that regard, however, as they overwhelmed Oberliga side Hemelingen 9-1, with five different players getting on the scoresheet.

Titz has insisted his side still have the desire despite losing their opening two fixtures:

“At the start of the season, there was no sign of uncertainty among the team, quite the opposite: even now in the cup match, which we played with a clear focus and a determination to win. The lads showed that again this week.”

The two sides split their meetings last season, with both winning away from home. Darmstadt hold the edge across the last five encounters, having won three of them.

Kohfeldt and Titz have met four times during their careers, with the latter prevailing on three occasions and Kohfeldt winning the other. Kohfeldt has won six of his nine meetings with Hannover, while Titz has won just four of his seven games against Darmstadt.

Team news

SV Darmstadt 98: Luca Marseiler, Fabian Nürnberger, Merveille Papela, Kai Klefisch (yellow-red suspension) and Fynn Lakenmacher (adductor problems) will not be available on Sunday.

Hannover 96: No absentees have been reported.

Predicted lineups

SV Darmstadt 98 (4-2-3-1): Schuhen; Lannert, Pfeiffer, Vukotić, Petretta; Akiyama, Sickinger; Weißhaupt, Duijvestijn, Furukawa; Smit.

Hannover 96 (3-4-3): Weinkauf; Okon, Tomiak, Hugonet; Neubauer, Thórdarson, Hartel, Oudenne; Taïbi, Pichler, Gindorf.