Also in the 2nd Bundesliga, the season 2018/19 slowly turns on the home straight with five remaining matchdays. Next Sunday, in the encounter between the table-twelfth Darmstadt and the tithe Bochum, it comes to a delightful meeting of two Traditonsklubs and former Erstligisten. A special piquancy lies in the personality of Darmstadt coach Dimitrios Grammozis, who trained until his taking office in the lilies a few weeks ago, the U19 VfL and now celebrates a quick reunion with his former employer.
The Südhessen succeeded with the “last minute victory” in Magdeburg (1: 0) an eminently important success on the way to another league. Despite now nine points ahead of the relegation place, the lilies certainly need one or the other point in order to plan serious for another season in the second division. In theory, this also applies to the upcoming opponent VfL, who is likely after the also immediately before the whistle secured 3: 2 against Fürth at now 38 points on the points account at human discretion to be safe.
However, the “blue” from the last five winless away games have only one point. Darmstadt, meanwhile, has won two of their last three home games and is always offensive against new-strong coach Grammozis. At game Darmstadt Vs. Bochum speak the odds of bookmakers for the hosts. However, as VfL were often beaten below value last time out, we give away for the match against Darmstadt.
Darmstadt:
When Darmstadt’s midfielder Marcel Heller hit the ball in Magdeburg shortly before the final whistle after a free-kick trick practiced during the week in training to 1-0 victory in the mesh knew the cheers among the more than 2,000 lily fans traveled no limits anymore. Due to this absolute big-point in the relegation battle Darmstadt now has nine points ahead of the relegation place and can plan five rounds before the end of the season almost for another season in the second division. Especially Coach Dimitros Grammozis was totally happy after the match, but at the same time warned against cockiness.
It was the primary physical elements that made such an important success in the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt. After again strong bearer keeper Heuer-Fernandez, especially in the first round several times against strongly oppressive hosts rescued, missed Dursun and Kempe at the few chances of the SVD a possible lead. When both opponents neutralized themselves after the change at a rather low level, Marcel Heller managed shortly before the end almost out of nowhere the Lucky Punch for the South Hesse. Although the playful elements remained largely on the track for the first time after the change of coach, the Darmstadt players, who were so weak in the past, have now won two out of the last three away games!
It is now important, as far as possible in the home game against away for five games winless Bochum retract the remaining points to the final rescue. In addition to coach Grammozis keeper Heuer Fernandes and Sören Bertram celebrate reunion with their former club, while this is prevented by Johannes Wurtz by a lengthy injury. Also hurt are Franke, Green and Medojevic not available. Wittek is missing because of the fifth yellow card. At game Darmstadt Vs. Bochum speak the odds for the host.
Bochum:
Similar to the upcoming opponent Darmstadt also Bochum celebrated in the last home game against Fürth a “last minute victory”. The man of the match was undoubtedly striker Lukas Hinterseer, who twice equalized the lead of the guests before and was right in stoppage time when he pushed for header from Pantolic for frenetically acclaimed 3.2-goal. In all understandable joy – after this “triple pack” it is almost impossible for VfL to keep the also topclave courted striker whose contract expires at the end of the season. The sought-after Austrian keeps a low profile about his future and wants to make a decision in close consultation with his family.
Above all promotion candidate HSV is to have serious interest in a commitment of the Bochumer Goalgetters, which is with 17 scored hits behind Cologne scorer Simon Terodde second best shooter of the league. For VfL itself, the recent success against Fürth was eminently important not only with regard to the class retention that was almost guaranteed. Before this win Bochum was weakest team in the second half and has in this with 22 goals against the worst defensive of all clubs. Overall, the “Blue” in the last eleven games only two wins! This is also responsible for serious concentration deficiencies, because after their own leadership, 19 points were lost – the second-weakest league behind Sandhausen! This happened particularly frequently abroad, where VfL had only been twice successful in the course of the race. Before everything the spectacular 3: 2 to the start of the second round at the sovereign championship leader Cologne made hope for more, but as so often in recent years again bitter disappointed.
Coach Robin Dutt has also recently become the focus of criticism after his contract was extended prematurely in the autumn of last year. For the ambitious Ruhrpott Club, the primary aim is to bring this time spent to a conciliatory end. After the last five winless away games with only one counter in the upcoming game in Darmstadt at the quick reunion with the former U19 coach Dimitrios Grammozis finally a “triple” on the opponent’s place to be retracted. Due to injury Danilo, Gyamerah, Leitsch, Bandowski, Sam, Zoller and Kruse are not available.
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,88
