How newcomers became Realos

The first ten match days of SV Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga were a wild ups and downs. The second division team, next to the co-promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim, was the best because it was the most stable to stay in the first league. Even in their heaviest defeats, the 0:8 at FC Bayern and the clear 1:5 at league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, the South Hesse team held their own for a while.

On the other hand, a few things went surprisingly wrong. This was the case with the 4-1 defeat on the second matchday against 1. FC Union Berlin, who had now fallen to 17th place – despite the majority. This was also the case in the 3-3 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach after a 3-0 lead at half-time, when the previously good order in their own ranks was shattered when Matej Maglica was sent off. But the “Lilien” defied four game days in a relegation zone with two wins in a row: 4-2 against Bremen and 2-1 in Augsburg a week later.

Bayern slap put away

Since then, coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team hasn’t managed a win, but they withstood the blow from Munich surprisingly well and currently seem to be finding their way back to the basic virtues that helped the team to promotion last season. SV 98 relied on the best defense in the second division, conceding a total of 33 goals. The situation has now been reversed. The Darmstadt team have conceded 33 goals after just twelve rounds – and are last in these statistics.

Nevertheless, South Hesse’s last two games indicated an increase in stability, which they need in the long term in order to maintain the chance of another first-class season. In Freiburg, the defense always stopped Freiburg’s Doan, Gregoritsch, Höler and Grifo in time, right up to the moment the goal was conceded. The damage avoidance strategy was based on a game plan in which the Darmstadt team relied on denying the Freiburg team their apparent preponderance in ball possession with concentrated disruptive maneuvers and relying on counterattacks.

Lieberknecht’s strategy worked. Also because the promoted teams have become Realos of the Bundesliga. They now know exactly what the team can do and what they can do better. She has gained in serenity under premier league conditions. A good prerequisite for achieving your own goals.

Roland Zorn, Freiburg Published/Updated: A comment from Marc Heinrich, Frankfurt Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 30 Alex Westhoff, Darmstadt Published/Updated: Recommendations: 3

Provided that the team stays on the path of stability it has now found and doesn’t get carried away with the false ambition of becoming careless because of the love of the game. The Mönchengladbach example may have left an instructive mark. The example of Freiburg may also be the case, as the “lilies” acquired a small, first-class school leaving certificate there.