Union Berlin - Darmstadt preview

Union Berlin vs Darmstadt
Impressive Darmstadt to defeat sluggish hosts

TEAM NEWS

On Matchday 7 Union Berlin boss Norbert Duwel selected an unchanged line-up from the team that beat RB Leipzig in their previous outing, but he is likely to tinker once again after his team’s poor showing in their defeat to Kaiserslautern.

A knee injury will force Martin Kobylanski to miss out once more, while attacker Soren Brandy is doubtful after being brought off against Lautern following a hefty challenge.

Darmstadt’s Hanno Behrens was the only absentee in his side’s 4-0 thrashing of FSV Frankfurt on Wednesday, and the concussion that kept him out of that game could keep him sidelined here too.

Defender Michael Stegmayer may also miss out after being substituted off as a precaution after just 23 minutes against FSV. However, coach Dirk Schuster otherwise has a full squad at his disposal.

Union:
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Brandy (knock)
Injured/ Unavailable: Kobylanski (knee)

Darmstadt:
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Behrens (concussion), Stegmayer (knock)
Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

Union fell back into bad habits away to Kaiserslautern on Matchday 7, lacking desire and quality all over the pitch in their 1-0 defeat. Norbert Duwel’s charges were far too sluggish and predictable up front, giving a clear indication as to why they’re the league’s joint-lowest scorers this term with a pitiful five chalked up.

Still down in 15th place, the reverse was Union’s third in their last four league games, and a return to home soil brings no guarantee of success, as they have only picked up four points from a possible nine there this term.

Darmstadt bounced back from their Matchday 6 defeat to Braunschweig in some style by hammering FSV Frankfurt 4-0 on Wednesday. After a slow start Dirk Schuster’s men never looked back after taking the lead, with three of their goals coming from set-pieces, all of which were taken by midfielder Tobias Kempe.

Their defence was as solid as ever and kept a fourth clean sheet of the season. Away from home Darmstadt have not been as strong though, drawing twice and losing once. Nevertheless, I believe they will have the wherewithal to defeat an off-form Union side on Saturday.