Darmstadt 98 vs Werder Bremen Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Darmstadt 98’s eventual survival in the Bundesliga last season came as a huge surprise to many who thought that, for a relatively small side, back-to-back promotions with very little investment, would almost certainly see their demise. Darmstadt’s performances so far this season without “superstar” Sandro Wagner, who scored 14 goals over 32 appearances and signed for TSG Hoffenheim during the transfer window, however, have been unsurprisingly bleak. Wagner was, by %, not only Darmstadt’s most involved player, when combining assists and goals scored, but one of the most vital players for any team in the Bundesliga last season. Darmstadt have no player that comes close to replacing his role in the team and are somewhat fortunate to also be standing on four points; both their 1-0 win at home to Frankfurt in game-week two and their 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim during “English week” came against the general run of play.

Werder Bremen parted ways with coach Viktor Skripnik after their 4-1 defeat away to Borussia Mönchengladbach in game-week four. The North German’s five consecutive competitive defeats (4 Bundesliga and 1 DFB Pokal) has been their worst start to a season in history. Interim coach Alexander Nouri, who took over the reins before Werder Bremen’s “English week” fixture at home to Mainz 05 has, however, now got Bremen up and running on his second attempt with a dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory over VfL Wolfsburg last weekend. Nouri handed starts to several players from the under-23’s who seemingly invigorated the deflated side. Substitute centre forward Lennart Thy and right-back Theodor Gebre Selassie scored in the 86th and 91st minutes respectively to overcome a 1-0 deficit.

Werder Bremen come into this match as slight favourites for the bookies at 29/20. Despite Bremen’s injury crisis, we feel they have a decent chance to take something away from this match after coach Nouri has added some fresh young talent to get the ball rolling. However, we do find an outright bet on the visitors to win a bit risky here. Instead, we feel the over 2.5 goals market seems decent value and likely to land here. Darmstadt against Bremen, as dull as the match sounds on paper, has actually produced some decent entertainment for the neutral fan both recently and historically. Both teams have scored in four consecutive meetings between Darmstadt and Bremen and over 2.5 goals have been scored in five of the six meetings between them (see head to head). Darmstadt have also conceded two or more in eight of their last eleven Bundesliga home matches, so we expect this to be the perfect conditions for Bremen to pounce on the host’s weak home form.

As such, over 2.5 goals at 3/4 and Werder Bremen to Win 2-1 at 17/2 with bet 365 are our choice bets for this match.