Darmstadt 98 vs Hannover 96 preview

Germany flag 2026/2027 2. Bundesliga, Germany
Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor
2. Bundesliga
Darmstadt 98SVD
Hannover 96HAN
KICKOFF :
Round 3 Regular Season

CONTEXT

In the 2026/2027 season of the 2. Bundesliga, Darmstadt 98 welcome Hannover 96 to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for a regular season fixture. The visitors arrive as the marginally stronger side on power metrics, holding 75.62 against the hosts 72.36. Both clubs occupy lower mid-table spots in the domestic standings, with Darmstadt 98 positioned 16th and Hannover 96 18th. The home side carry a form score of 5.5 while the away team sit at 0. Limited data surrounds efficiency and set piece metrics, both flagged with low confidence and proxy usage. The encounter offers a chance for either side to climb the table through disciplined play and effective use of available resources. Hannover 96s slight overall edge may influence the flow if they can impose structure early.

TL;DR

  • Structural: Darmstadt 98 occupy 16th place and Hannover 96 sit 18th in the domestic league table.
  • Form: Darmstadt 98 register a form score of 5.5 while Hannover 96 hold a score of 0.
  • Squad: Hannover 96 possess the higher power score at 75.62 compared to Darmstadt 98 at 72.36.
  • Efficiency: Efficiency metrics remain unavailable for both teams ahead of the match.
  • Transition: Transition data shows no recorded details for either side in this fixture.
  • Set pieces: Set piece analysis carries low confidence with proxy data applied to both teams.
  • xVariable: Hannover 96 hold a power advantage of 3.3 points over Darmstadt 98.
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
Jan 25 vs Team A
Feb 1 vs Team B
Feb 8 vs Team C
Darmstadt 98 F. Kohfeldt
F. Kohfeldt
VS
Hannover 96 C. Titz
C. Titz
0.67
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
1.25
0.5 i
Last 6 Opponents
Dynamo Dresden Rank: 72 L
Holstein Kiel Rank: 73 D
Paderborn Rank: 78 L
Preußen Münster Rank: 67 D
Karlsruher SC Rank: 72 L
Elversberg Rank: 78 D
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
1 i
Last 6 Opponents
VfL Wolfsburg Rank: 78 L
Energie Cottbus Rank: 71 L
Nürnberg Rank: 75 D
VfL Bochum 1848 Rank: 73 D
Preußen Münster Rank: 67 D
Karlsruher SC Rank: 72 W
3
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
3 - 0 - 1
1
No sidelined player data available.

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power ranking is SportMonks' model-based team strength indicator. Historical input capped to 2 seasons.
72.36
75.62
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
Darmstadt 98
Hannover 96
Power Score
72.36
75.62
League Position
16
18
Global Rank
205
140

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

–
vs
Darmstadt 98 — Opponent-weighted form score
Hannover 96 — Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) Darmstadt 98 Hannover 96

Team Head to Head Last 6 Seasons

Summary of 4 matches between these sides — filtered by competition and venue context.

Darmstadt 98 SVD Home
4 matches
Hannover 96 HAN Away
Match Record
3
Wins
1
0
Draws
0
1
Losses
3
Goals
8
Goals Scored
6
6
Goals Conceded
8
+2
Goal Difference
-2
Expected Goals
0
xG
0
0
xGA
0

Data last updated: 2026-08-29T00:31:19+00:00

STARTING XI - EXPECTED

Match Formation 4-2-3-1
Match Formation 3-4-3
Pitch

General Information

Date & Time
Competition
2026/2027 2. Bundesliga, Germany · Round 3 · Regular Season
Stadium
Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor
Capacity
16500
Pitch Surface
Grass
Weather
☀️ 12°C, Fair
Referees
Timo Gerach
Alexander Sather
Patrick Kessel
Marc-Philipp Eckermann

Expected Lineup

Referee : Timo Gerach

Starting XI ▼

1
Marcel Schuhen
Marcel Schuhen Goalkeeper
7.23
36
Milan Smit
Milan Smit Centre Forward
6.74
41
Lance Duijvestijn
Lance Duijvestijn Attacking Midfield
6.66
6
Patric Pfeiffer
Patric Pfeiffer Right Back
6.73
7
Noah Weißhaupt
Noah Weißhaupt Right Wing
6.56
17
Kai Klefisch
Kai Klefisch Defensive Midfield
6.42
23
Carlo Sickinger
Carlo Sickinger Defensive Midfield
7.23
3
Florian Kleinhansl
Florian Kleinhansl Left Back
6.9
20
Aleksandar Vukotic
Aleksandar Vukotic Left Back
6.87
28
Christopher Lannert
Christopher Lannert Right Back
6.6
44
Yosuke Furukawa
Yosuke Furukawa Left Wing
6.87
Referee : Timo Gerach

Starting XI ▼

30
Leo Weinkauf
Leo Weinkauf Goalkeeper
7.44
29
Kolja Oudenne
Kolja Oudenne Midfielder
7.01
33
Maurice Neubauer
Maurice Neubauer Midfielder
7.37
10
Marcel Hartel
Marcel Hartel Attacker
7.06
25
Lars Gindorf
Lars Gindorf Centre Forward
7.11
7
Mustapha Bundu
Mustapha Bundu Attacker
6.98
3
Boris Tomiak
Boris Tomiak Centre Back
6.59
4
Jean Hugonet
Jean Hugonet Left Back
6.64
8
Waniss Taïbi
Waniss Taïbi Central Midfield
6.84
17
Bastian Allgeier
Bastian Allgeier Right Back
6.67
23
Stefán Teitur Thórdarson
Stefán Teitur Thórdarson Central Midfield
7.36

CONCLUSION

Hannover 96 enter with a modest power edge that could shape midfield control and chance creation if they settle quickly. Darmstadt 98 will look to leverage their higher form score and home environment to disrupt rhythm and force errors. Both sides face challenges from sparse efficiency and set piece insights, placing emphasis on core defensive organisation. The lower table positions add motivation for a result that could ease pressure in the coming weeks. Smooth transitions between defence and attack may prove decisive in open phases. Overall the contest appears balanced yet tilted slightly toward the visitors ability to manage key moments through structured play.