On August 4th at 7:30 PM, Darmstadt will host Düsseldorf at the Bünte Wald Stadium in the first round of the new 2. Bundesliga season.
Darmstadt finished last in the Bundesliga last season and was relegated. After relegation, Darmstadt underwent a major makeover. Defensive stalwart Klarer moved to England, midfield mainstay Mehlem joined Hull City, and players like Maglica and Franjic, who were loaned from Union Berlin and Wolfsburg respectively, also left when their loans expired. The club signed several low-priced players from Stuttgart, Paderborn, and others, and also completed a number of free transfers, completing the big changes that inevitably come after relegation.
Darmstadt won 4 out of 6 games in the preseason, showing good attacking form. 24-year-old striker Lakonischel, who joined on a free transfer from 1860 Munich, has been particularly impressive. German media believe that Darmstadt’s main challenge at the start of the season will be integration, as 5 of their starting 11 players for the first round are new signings.
Düsseldorf finished third in the 2. Bundesliga last season and was eliminated in the promotion playoffs after drawing 3-3 against Bochum over two legs (3-0 away, 0-3 home, 0-0 in extra time, 5-6 in penalties). This summer, the club sold midfielder Enghagh to Como in Serie A for €8 million and winger Solis to Prague in the Czech Republic for €6.5 million. These transfers, along with other departures, generated €14.85 million in revenue, making Düsseldorf the top earner in the 2. Bundesliga.
Düsseldorf also brought in several young players from Norwich, Copenhagen, and other clubs to complete their squad. The team won 4 out of 6 games in the preseason, but most of their victories were against international teams. They lost both of their games against German teams (Kickers Offenbach and Kaiserslautern).
In terms of head-to-head records, Darmstadt has a poor record against Düsseldorf, winning only 2 of their last 10 encounters. In the last three years, the two teams have faced each other 6 times in the 2. Bundesliga, with Darmstadt winning only once.
Both teams have a number of players out injured. Darmstadt will be missing Holland (captain, full-back, cruciate ligament injury), Bader (full-back, nose surgery), and Nürnberg (midfielder, shoulder injury). Düsseldorf, meanwhile, will be without 6 players: Vincent (forward, foot injury), Gavory (full-back, muscle injury), Siebert (center-back, tendon injury), Mbamba (midfielder, knee injury), Pesinovic (forward, fracture), and Manu (center-back, muscle injury).
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