Pre-match facts: Darmstadt 98 vs. VfB

Record against Darmstadt

Overall: 13 games. 6 wins, 4 draws, 3 defeats. 30:19 goal difference.

In the Bundesliga: 7 games. 5 wins, 2 draws, 0 defeats. 21:7 goal difference.

Looking back

VfB recovered from a goal down to beat Darmstadt 3-1 in Stuttgart earlier this season, with Enzo Millot and Serhou Guirassy (2) getting on the scoresheet.

What the coaches say

Sebastian Hoeneß: “It’s going to be a tricky game. Darmstadt are in a relegation battle and every game is enormously important. They’ll do everything they can to make life difficult for us. There are no easy games in the Bundesliga. We’re confident we can cause Darmstadt problems with a good performance, but only if we’re at 100 per cent mentally and physically.”

Torsten Lieberknecht: “Stuttgart have a lot of creative players and free spirits in their side, and a good mix overall. They don’t dwell on the ball much between the lines. Every one of our players will have to rise to the challenge and we’ll also need that little bit of luck to survive certain periods against VfB.”

Goals aplenty

The seven Bundesliga meetings between the sides have produced 28 goals – or four per game on average.

The teams’ highest-scoring encounter was VfB’s 7-1 victory at Darmstadt in 1979, which was the Lilies’ heaviest-ever Bundesliga defeat until Matchday 9 of this season, when they were beaten 8-0 at Bayern Munich. There has never been a goalless draw in this fixture.

Suspensions

The hosts are without Matej Maglica and Tim Skarke, who both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the campaign against Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend.

As for VfB, Maxi Mittelstädt is currently on four yellow cards. Another caution will result in a one-match ban.

Spectators

Around 1,800 VfB fans will make the trip to Darmstadt. The away end at the Stadion am Böllenfalltor is sold out.