FIRST TEAM
02/07/2016

TSG beaten at home by Darmstadt 98

TSG just can’t seem to pick up points on a Sunday. The 2-0 defeat to Darmstadt 98 in the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena was the seventh consecutive defeat on a Sunday. Centre backs Sulu and Rajkovic scored the goals for the visitors.

Tactics and line-up:

Manager Huub Stevens made two changes to the side that started in last week’s 2-0 defeat away to German champions Bayern München: Kevin Volland replaced Eduardo Vargas up front, and Jeremy Toljan took on Ji-Su Kim’s role as full-back.

The formation taken up by the starting XI was as follows: Oliver Baumann in goals, of course. In front of him, a back four of Pavel Kaderabek, Niklas Süle, Ermin Bicakcic and Toljan. In the defensive midfield role, Tobias Strobl stood alongside Sebastian Rudy, while Kevin Volland, Jiloan Hamad and Jonathan Schmid formed the attacking midfield trio. Leading the line: Lone striker Andrej Kramaric. When Darmstadt were in possession, the TSG-XI adopted a 4-4-2 formation, with Volland and Schmidt slotting in alongside Strobl and Rudy while Hamad moved forward to join Kramaric.

In the 54th minute, Stevens made a double substitution - Nadiem Amiri replaced Hamad and Bicakcic made way for Zuber. The new formation: 3-5-2. Volland joins Kramaric up front - Süle was left as the only central defender.

Moment of the match:

This can only happen to a team near the bottom of the table. A Darmstadt corner, dealt with comprehensively by TSG, but just as Rudy looks to instigate the counterattack, he strikes referee Dingert. The ball falls right into the hands of Darmstadt who within four seconds and three touches have the ball in the back of the net and the three points in the bag - typical!

Number of the match: 14

Now after 20 games, TSG remain on 14 points and at 17th in the League. Werder Bremen – in 16th - have five points on Hoffenheim. It will be a long Rückrunde for TSG - a big challenge to avoid relegation lies ahead.

 

Match facts and statistics »

Download Now!
Print Page to top