Highlights

Full-time
camera-photo

Full-time: Darmstadt 1-1 Hamburg

The battle of the Bundesliga 2 summit completely lived up to its billing! Both sides showed the kind of quality that has set them on course for promotion but the two cancelled one another out, and after falling behind in the first-half, Darmstadt are delighted to have extended their unbeaten league run to 21 matches.
90'
+ 3

David could snatch it

Late pressure from HSV provides another twist to this enthralling encounter. Dompe swings a cross over to David at the far post, but he volleys wide.
90'

Visitors on the ropes

If this game continued for much longer, you'd be almost certain Darmstadt would score at some stage. As it is we're heading into stoppage time, and Hamburg could be saved by the referee's whistle.
90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
87'

Mehlem in the box

Another chance for Darmstadt to race into the lead - Mehlem twists and falls to the floor in getting his effort away and it squirms through to Heuer Fernandes.
84'

Darmstadt want to win this now!

They haven't given up for a second despite Hamburg's solid showing, and after pulling level, Darmstadt are pushing forward again and again. Holland is teed up by Tietz on the edge of the box and fires over with plenty of the net to aim for!
81'

Super sub Stojilkovic with the leveller!

He had a couple of opportunities straight after coming on, and he makes no mistake at the third attempt! Hamburg were looking rather comfortable, but lose the ball in the Darmstadt area and get punished on a quick break, with Stojilkovic taking the ball around Jonas David before slotting past Fernandes to send the home fans wild!
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
22 %
79'

HSV steady the ship

Hamburg's defending has been impressive tonight. They withstand that short spell of Darmstadt pressure, keep them at bay for a while and then the clock ticks down a little further as they make a double substitution.
74'

Darmstadt dare to believe

The hosts look like they are going to throw everything at this to keep their long unbeaten run intact. Bennetts bursts into the box but fires wide!
69'

Two chances for Stojilkovic

The other player introduced in a double swap for Darmstadt has two great openings within seconds! He gets to a Ronstadt cross right in front of the goalkeeper but can't quite take it down, and moments later he is through on goal but fires wide.
67'

Bennetts boost?

Former Tottenham youth product and Ipswich loanee Keanen Bennetts is on for the final 25 minutes or so.
65'

Goalscorer off

Königsdörffer is taken off for the creative and speedy Jatta as Tim Walter tries to boost the Hamburg attack.
63'

Dompe looks for Glatzel

Hamburg's French winger has been very lively in this second half. He tries to clip a ball in for Glatzel but can't quite squeeze it past the defender for the frontman to pounce.
61'

Hamburg leading the shot count

HSV have hit eight efforts so far, Darmstadt six
Goal attempts
3off target
3on target
6off target
2on target
57'

Benes deflected over

Hamburg try a sneaky free-kick routine that sees Dompe cut the ball to Benes in front of goal. His effort is deflected over. Good spell from HSV this - the visitors have probably shaded the second half so far!
53'

Dompe close

Hamburg look to double their lead, and it's a good shot from Dompe but Schuhen does well to get across and save.
52'

Ronstadt denied

Riedel hit the ball across to the Darmstadt left frontman, who shimmied inside and took aim from a good 20 metres out. Heuer Fernandes got a hand to the stinging effort to save.
51'

Shifting shape

It looks like Hamburg are sitting deeper in the second half, getting more men behind the ball. No doubt they are trying to hold onto the single-goal lead and calculating Darmstadt will struggle to find a way through a packed defence.
47'

Even affair

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
Darmstadt can count themselves unfortunate to be behind by looking at the xG
xGoals
0
0.74
0.61
0
Goals
46'

Back underway

If Hamburg hold out for a win, Darmstadt's lead at the top of the Bundesliga 2 table would be cut to a single point!
Kick-off!
45'
+ 3

Half-time: Darmstadt 0-1 Hamburg

It's Hamburg who have their noses in front of the battle at the Bundesliga 2 summit. It's been a really tasty encounter though with both sides investing all their energy - strap yourselves in and get set for more entertainment when it resumes in 15!
Half-time
45'
+ 1

Ronstadt treated

The attacker looks okay, thankfully, after a minute or two of medical attention.
42'

Off the line!

Darmstadt go within a millimetre or two of levelling! Tietz turns the ball across to Honsak on a quick attack when Hamburg win possession, and Heuer Fernandes scrambles the ball away from the goal line itself!
39'

A real scrap

Both sides have just kept on going for this, which has made for a thrilling first half for neutrals. Darmstadt are still trying to deploy their attacking pace and neat passing to effect, while Hamburg look a constant menace on the break.
33'

Benes wide

The visitors get some relief from the Darmstadt pressure - with Benes shoving a shot wide from outside the box.
33'

Ronstadt has been a handful

The Darmstadt forward is seriously fast - and great at winning the ball (with nine challenges won already)
Duels won
9
7
Frank Ronstadt Sebastian Schonlau
30'

Zimmermann heads wide

The former Norwich defender steers a Holland corner the wrong side of the target at the far post.
30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
26'

Dangerous from Darmstadt

Honsak whips in a wicked free-kick cross. Tietz goes agonisingly close to getting a touch to it with the goal gaping. Some good pressure from Darmstadt now, who have reacted well to falling behind.
camera-photo

Königsdörffer can

That was Königsdörffer's sixth goal of the season, having also scored at home to Darmstadt earlier in the season. The tally surpasses the five goals he scored last season for Dresden.
23'

Ronstadt goes close

Superb play from Frank Ronstadt. He dispossess Heyer 20 metres away from the Hamburg goal and rushes towards the target before cracking in a shot that Heuer Fernandes has to tip over.
20'

Plenty of the play for the hosts

Darmstadt have controlled possession but are behind. Can they pass their way through the HSV defence to come back?
Possession (%)
6139
15'

Switch of sides

Torsten Lieberknecht has made an early tactical tweak - switching the sides of his wingers so that Karic comes to the right and Ronstadt to the left. We'll see if that pays off...
11'

Now for the hosts

Having taken a few minutes to orientate themselves to falling behind, Darmstadt start pinging the ball around well. In-form Honsak charges past the defence on the left and clips a tasty ball across the goalmouth that nobody can reach. The Lilies aren't going to give up their 20-match unbeaten record easily!
8'

Muheim over

The early lead has rattled the leaders! Hamburg come again and look to extend their lead, with Muheim sweeping a shot over from distance. There is a great intensity to the visitors in these early stages.
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
38 %
4'

First blood to Hamburg!

Darmstadt had made a decent start but Hamburg have grabbed an early lead! Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer nets his sixth goal of the season, popping up to meet a cross-field Heyer pass at the far post and sweeping in!
1'

We're off!

The eagerly awaited meeting of first v second in Bundesliga 2 is underway.
Kick-off!

A case for the defence

Darmstadt have conceded just 16 league goals this season - fewer than every other team in Germany's top two divisions (Bayern Munich are next best with 21 goals conceded).

The fans are ready

The stands are packed in Darmstadt with everyone looking forward to this Saturday night battle at the Bundesliga 2 summit!
camera-photo

Glatzel wants to continue his glut

Hamburg number 9 Robert Glatzel has 14 goals this season and he'd love to find the net tonight away at the only side above his club in the Bundesliga 2 table. With Tim Kleindienst of Heidenheim scoring four goals last weekend to overtake Glatzel in the scoring charts (with 15 goals), he is also on a personal mission to become the division's lead scorer once more.

More on those teams

Two changes for Darmstadt despite their 20-match unbeaten run. Injuries to Müller and Kempe see Riedel and Schnellhardt coming in to defence and midfield, respectively. Mathias Honsak is in fine scoring form with three in his last three league appearances and a brace against Frankfurt in a recent cup tie. Just the one change for Hamburg to the side that won 2-1 in Bielefeld last weekend, with Königsdörffer in for Jatta up front. Glatzel is the second highest scorer in Bundesliga 2 with 14 strikes this season.

Darmstadt XI

Schuhen - Zimmermann, Isherwood, Riedel - Ronstadt, Holland (c), Schnellhardt, Karic - Mehlem, Tietz, Honsak

Darmstadt subs

Brunst, Warming, Bennetts, Gjasula, Bader, Ben Bella, Wilhelmsson, Stojilkovic, Torsiello

HSV XI

Heuer Fernandes - Heyer, David, Schonlau (c), Muheim - Reis, Meffert, Benes - Königsdörffer, Glatzel, Dompe

HSV subs

Raab, Mikelbrencis, Bilbija, Kittel, Montero, Jatta, Nemeth, Katterbach, Kisilowski

First vs. Second

The Bundesliga 2 title race is hotting up and tonight's game sees the top-two go head-to-head. Darmstadt start the day four points clear and a seven point gap would put them well clear in the promotion race. HSV could move to within a point of the leaders with victory, but defeat - and a Heidenheim win - would see their gap to third-place reduced to just one point. Something will give today.
0:29
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Darmstadt vs. HSV - best moments!

Welcome!

First hosts second in Bundesliga 2 on Saturday. Can visitors Hamburg close the gap or will Darmstadt extend their lead at the top? Stay tuned!