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While Freiburg has encountered some difficulties in securing victories in the Bundesliga lately, they have managed to maintain an unbeaten streak in their last two matches across all competitions. Their remarkable 2-3 triumph over the formidable Greek team Olympiakos in the Europa League was followed by a commendable 0-0 draw on the road against Eintracht Frankfurt, which served as a resilient response after enduring consecutive defeats in the Bundesliga.
Their return to their home turf this coming Sunday will undoubtedly be a cause for celebration, as they haven't played on their own ground since September 16th when they suffered a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. Their sole other home fixture this season saw them snatch a last-minute victory against Werder Bremen, winning 1-0.
On the other side of the pitch, Augsburg managed to find some respite from the precarious situation of being in or near the bottom three positions, at least temporarily, when they secured their first Bundesliga victory of the season in their most recent outing. They initially fell behind against the struggling Mainz early in the match but staged a comeback in the first half, eventually taking the lead thanks to a double by Ermedin Demirovic.
It's safe to assume that Demirovic will once again play a pivotal role for Augsburg as they seek their first positive result away from home after enduring comprehensive defeats against formidable title-contending teams such as Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
SV Darmstadt 98 is eager to secure their first victory in the Bundesliga since their return to the top-flight as they prepare to host Werder Bremen this upcoming Sunday. In contrast, Werder Bremen has managed two wins but suffered three losses in their initial five matches, following their successful survival in the Bundesliga last season.
Darmstadt was well aware of the immense challenge they faced in their quest to avoid relegation this season, and the early indications suggest that Torsten Lieberknecht's team will have a tough battle ahead. Their only point so far was earned from a thrilling 3-3 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach, in which they surrendered a three-goal lead after Matej Maglica was sent off in the 49th minute. Prior to this weekend's match, they found themselves just above the bottom of the league table due to their goal-scoring efforts alone, with defeats to Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen, and Stuttgart.
In their recent match at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Darmstadt took the lead thanks to an own goal by Dan-Axel Zagadou. However, Stuttgart quickly equalized with Enzo Millot's strike five minutes later, followed by another brace from Serhou Guirassy, leaving Darmstadt empty-handed once more. Consequently, Lieberknecht and his squad are under significant pressure to secure a positive result at the Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor on Sunday, as a poor performance could jeopardize their return to Germany's top-flight after six years.
While Werder Bremen demonstrated last season that survival in the Bundesliga following promotion is possible, it's important to note that they were coming from a substantially higher position compared to their upcoming opponents. Their relegation at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign marked their first descent to the second tier since 1980. Nevertheless, Ole Werner managed to swiftly guide his team back to the top level, with the squad never truly appearing to be in danger despite finishing just three points above the relegation zone.
The 35-year-old manager aims to see his team start strongly once again to create some breathing space. Collecting six points from their initial five games can be considered a decent start, with victories over struggling sides Mainz 05 and FC Koln at the Weserstadion during September.
Even though Werder Bremen lost star striker Niclas Fullkrug to Borussia Dortmund at the end of the previous month, they still possess substantial offensive firepower, particularly in the form of Marvin Ducksch. They are counting on their attacking prowess to secure another win against potential relegation contenders in the upcoming match.
With former Norwich City central defender Christoph Zimmermann still out of action due to a lingering back injury, Maglica is poised to make his return as part of the hosts' defensive trio after completing his one-match suspension against Stuttgart.
Regrettably, Fabio Torsiello will not be available for selection due to a thigh ailment. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the fitness of Fraser Hornby, Oscar Vilhelmsson, Braydon Manu, and Fabian Nurnberger.
Turning our attention to Werder Bremen, it appears that the club captain, Marco Friedl, may not be fit for travel due to an abdominal problem. It is improbable that Werner will make any alterations to his winning starting lineup, following their victory over Koln in the previous match.
Rafael Santos Borre, who was brought in on loan from Frankfurt as a replacement for Fullkrug on transfer deadline day, earned his first start for the club in that particular game and rewarded his new manager's confidence with his inaugural goal.
Darmstadt is slated to host Werder Bremen at the Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor on Sunday, October 1st, in the Bundesliga. The hosts have encountered a challenging return to the top flight and are still on the hunt for their maiden victory. Last week, Darmstadt suffered a 3-1 defeat to the high-flying Stuttgart side. They initially took the lead after 20 minutes through an own goal but ultimately succumbed to a comeback. Darmstadt currently occupy the 17th position in the standings, having accumulated just one point from their opening five games.
On the other hand, Werder Bremen experienced a sluggish start to their season but have recently shown signs of improvement as they aim to secure their place in the top flight for a third consecutive campaign. They clinched a 2-1 come-from-behind triumph over Koln in their most recent outing, with Rafael Santos Borre and Justin Njinmah finding the back of the net to overturn a deficit. Werder currently sit in the 11th spot on the points table, boasting six points from their first five fixtures.
This impending encounter marks the 15th meeting between these two teams, with Darmstadt trailing with a record of 6 losses to 3 wins. It's noteworthy that Werder has suffered just one defeat in their last six encounters with Darmstadt. Furthermore, Darmstadt finds themselves in a precarious defensive situation, having failed to secure a clean sheet in their last seven matches across various competitions. They also share the unwanted distinction of having one of the poorest defensive records in the top flight this season, conceding a total of 16 goals. Additionally, it's worth noting that two of Bremen's three league defeats in the current season have occurred while playing away from home.
After their promotion from Bundesliga II, Darmstadt has encountered significant difficulties in transitioning to life in the German top flight, a league they had been absent from for six years.
They've managed to secure just a solitary point from the five games they've played so far, which has placed Torsten Lieberknecht's side in the undesirable position of being mired in the relegation zone. Despite their recent offensive output of six goals in the last four matches, Darmstadt has been able to secure only one draw in this stretch, which was a thrilling 3-3 encounter with Monchengladbach. Unfortunately, the team's defensive struggles have been a major contributing factor to their recent woes, as they've conceded a staggering 15 goals in their recent defeats against Union Berlin (4-1), Leverkusen (5-1), and Stuttgart (3-1).
As for their upcoming opponents, Werder Bremen, they approach their visit to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor with a mixed start to the season, having won two but lost three of their first five games. On the road, The River Islanders have experienced a challenging start, losing all three of their away matches so far this season, extending their streak of away defeats to five games, dating back to the end of the previous season.
When it comes to Werder Bremen, one can typically anticipate a fair share of goals, especially in their away fixtures. The team has witnessed both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals being netted in seven of their last nine away games in the Bundesliga, indicating their propensity for entertaining and high-scoring matches.
