Tactics
Under head coach Torsten Lieberknecht, SV Darmstadt 98 achieved promotion to the Bundesliga for the fourth time in their history last season. The Lilies boasted the best defence in the second tier with just 33 goals conceded, and that success was based on Lieberknecht’s preferred 3-4-1-2 formation.
Absentees
Lucas Alario is still in rehabilitative training after his knee operation and won’t be available, along with Medhi Loune, who’s recovering from his cruciate ligament tear.
Darmstadt are without Tobias Kempe due to a muscular problem.
One to watch: Mathias Honsak
Honsak has been with Darmstadt since 2019 and scored two goals in three minutes in last season’s DFB Cup round of 16 clash against Eintracht, who went on to win 4-2. The 26-year-old Austrian was also on target in a recent friendly against Liverpool.
- Honsak has made 122 appearances in Bundesliga 2 for Darmstadt and Holstein Kiel. Now he’s set to make his debut in the top flight.
- He’s represented Austria 24 times at U19 and U21 level, netting eight goals. In his last appearance for his country, he came up against Germany’s U21s and Robin Koch.
- Born in Vienna, Honsak learned his trade in Austria. Before moving to Germany, he played for clubs including SV Ried, SCR Altach and Salzburg.
Reunions
SGE goalkeeper coach Jan Zimmermann played for Darmstadt between 2011 and 2014. Captain Sebastian Rode also has connections to the Hesse club, playing there as a youngster from 2004 to 2005.
Going the other way, Darmstadt defender Clemens Riedel is returning to his former place of work – the 20-year-old was in the Eintracht academy until 2017. There’s also a reunion between Ellyes Skhiri and Matthias Bader, who both played for FC Köln in the 2019/20 season.
