Bochum demands revenge from Darmstadt: Will the relegation battle be decided?

Bochum demands revenge from Darmstadt: Will the relegation battle be decided?

On Sunday, the football field in Bochum will be the scene of an exciting duel when the home team VfL meets SV Darmstadt 98. After the bitter 1:4 defeat in the first leg, the Bochum team under coach Uwe Rösler want to take revenge and end their negative series against the Darmstadt team. The situation couldn't be more exciting: Darmstadt is in an impressive third place before the second half of the season, while Bochum is languishing in second-to-last place in 21st place. But be careful: Bochum has visibly improved since October and has only recorded one defeat in the last nine matches, which brings a breath of fresh air into the team.

The starting position is clear, because Darmstadt is considered the favorite for promotion and has only suffered two defeats so far this season. A look at the statistics shows that Bochum have not lost to Darmstadt in seven home games, giving fans hope of a win. However, this balance could be shortened for Darmstadt, who also have a top performer in Isac Lidberg, the second best goalscorer in the league, who scored three goals in the first leg.

Flood of goals or defensive battle?

The upcoming clash could be a real goal-scoring frenzy, with the xG value for the game standing at 2.84, suggesting possibly just two goals. Interestingly, both teams are particularly accurate in the second half. A total of 66% of Darmstadt's goals and 52% of Bochum's goals came after the break. But it wasn't just the offense that showed weaknesses, both defensive lines also had to take a bit harder in the second half, so that Darmstadt conceded 53% and Bochum even 68% of their goals in the last 45 minutes.

In the first leg, the game was extremely turbulent: Despite the initial pressure from Bochum, who had control of the game with 57% possession, Darmstadt's effectiveness gradually became noticeable. Lidberg turned the game on its head with his quick double, while the Bochum team did not act with enough coolness in key moments. Dark clouds gathered as they repeatedly appeared vulnerable defensively. Weaknesses that they absolutely have to correct in the second half of the season if they want to escape the relegation zone.

A look at the atmosphere and the spectators

Of course, we shouldn't forget the euphoric fans who are giving everything in Bochum to push their team forward. In any case, the mood is likely to be heated, after all, the fans are also crucial to the success of their team. Bochum will try everything at home to secure the points and increase the pressure on the Darmstadt team.

The coming weekend promises pure excitement. All eyes are on the two teams and the question of whether Bochum can turn the switch or whether Darmstadt will continue its strong game. The answer to that will be available on Sunday!