Darmstadt vs. Wolfsburg preview: Both teams in need of a victory
Two sides experiencing poor spells of form will face off when Darmstadt play host to Wolfsburg on Saturday.
Darmstadt
Darmstadt are currently propping up the Bundesliga table after mustering just nine points from 14 matches. Since claiming consecutive victories in October, the newly-promoted side have gone on to pick up just two points from their next seven matches.
Three straight losses were followed by back-to-back draws against Mainz and Freiburg. Instead of building upon those two results, Darmstadt have fallen to defeat in their last two outings. They were edged out by Köln via a 1-0 scoreline before they gave up a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 to Heidenheim last weekend.
After trailing at the break against Heidenheim, Torsten Lieberknecht’s side turned the game in their favour thanks to a Tim Skarke effort and a Lennard Maloney own goal turned the contest. However, a quick-fire Patrick Mainka brace ultimately proved decisive, as it condemned Darmstadt to their ninth defeat of the Bundesliga season.
Having shipped 37 league goals this season, die Lilien currently hold the worst defensive record in the top flight, highlighting a need to shore up at the back if they are to avoid relegation this term.
Team News
Christoph Zimmermann, Fraser Hornby, Braydon Manu and Fabian Nürnberger are all set to miss out with ankle issues. Marvin Mehlem is sidelined with a leg injury, while Fabian Holland is a doubt due to illness.
Wolfsburg
While Wolfsburg are seven points better off than their opponents, they are also experiencing a poor run of form. Wolfsburg boss Niko Kovac has seen his side win just one of their last eight league matches (D1, L6).
That sole victory took place against RB Leipzig at the end of November. However, since beating die Roten Bullen 2-1, Wolfsburg have lost back-to-back league games against Bochum and Freiburg. To make matters worse, those disappointing results took place either side of an extra-time defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB-Pokal.
Although they will be desperate to claim a positive result on Saturday, their away record suggests that could be easier said than done. Die Wölfe have lost six consecutive away league matches since beating Köln on August 26. After conceding 17 goals across those six away losses, Wolfsburg need to improve defensively if they are to start picking up points on the road.
Team News
Wolfsburg are without the injured quartet of Rogério, Patrick Wimmer, Amin Sarr and Lukas Nmecha. Meanwhile, Maximilian Arnold will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.