Record against Darmstadt (since the Bundesliga was formed)
Overall: 10 games, 5 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats, 25:14 goal difference
In Bundesliga 2: 4 games, 1 win, 1 draw, 2 defeats, 7:8 goal difference
Looking back
The last time VfB and Darmstadt 98 crossed swords was Matchday 28 of the 2015/2016 Bundesliga season. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Old friends
SVD attacker Erich Berko played in VfB’s youth ranks from 2009 to 2015. Left-back Sebastian Hertner also wore VfB colours as a youngster, as was the case with goalkeeper Carl Klaus before he moved to VfL Wolfsburg in 2012.
Strong under the lights
Across the 2016/2017 season and the current campaign in the second flight, VfB have picked up 25 of a possible 30 points in Monday matches, with the only defeat coming against Hannover 96 in December 2016. Of the other nine matches, VfB have won eight and were held to a 1-1 draw by Eintracht Braunschweig. Darmstadt 98 have picked up four Monday-night wins and suffered the same number of defeats.
Record-setting
June 1979 saw the boys from Cannstatt record their second-highest Bundesliga away win with a 7-1 thrashing of Darmstadt. The biggest came at Fortuna Düsseldorf in March 1986 when they won 7-0. For ‘the Lilies’, the defeat was their worst in professional football.
Top tacklers
Head coach Tim Walter’s men have won 52.7 per cent of their duels, making them the best tacklers in Bundesliga 2.
One to watch
Darmstadt forward Serdar Dursun has been on fine form at home this season, scoring all five of his goals at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.