Darmstadt 98 — Hertha Berlin : Match Preview and Prediction for August 24,2025

Darmstadt’s Initial Impression

On paper, their performance appears formidable. Three competitive matches, three victories. Six points from two league rounds, placing them at the top of the standings. However, I urge you to delve beyond these surface-level statistics and avoid blindly trusting the raw numbers.

Analyzing Darmstadt’s Victories

Let’s scrutinize these victories more closely. In the Cup, they faced the relatively modest Lubeck from the fourth tier. What did we observe? A tense 2-1 win, conceding a goal in the dying minutes. Match statistics reveal that Darmstadt allowed their opponents to register 4 shots on target, with Lubeck’s xG reaching 0.69 – a rather high figure for a game against a Regional League side.

Coaching Perspective and League Performance

Their league campaign saw a 1-0 away triumph over Nuremberg. This was not a dominant display but rather a hard-fought, gritty result. While they secured three points, they certainly didn’t overpower their opponent. Even coach Florian Kohfeldt, in his interviews, tends to focus more on the threats posed by Hertha than on the overwhelming strength of his own squad. He labels the Berliners as the “clear favorites for promotion” and specifically highlights their players, whom he claims “other clubs simply cannot afford.”

Hertha’s Challenging Start and Squad Quality

Now, let’s turn our attention to Hertha. A single point from two matches, an uninspiring start, and a slew of injuries. All of these statements hold true. Yet, consider their squad. The individual quality of Hertha’s players is undeniably a cut above most teams in the 2. Bundesliga.

Key Players for Hertha

Fabian Reese stands out as an exceptional player in this league. Dawid Kownacki is a top-tier striker. Michaël Cuisance, along with Márton Dárdai, whom Kohfeldt considers to possess arguably the best ability to initiate attacks, are all players capable of deciding a moment unilaterally, even when the overall team play is faltering.

Cup Performance and Psychological Boost

Admittedly, their Cup clash against Preussen Münster was abysmal in terms of performance. They were outplayed for 120 minutes, managing only 30% possession and being outshot 11-27. Yet, they progressed! They clawed their way to victory via a penalty shootout. Such hard-fought matches, won by sheer determination, often provide a crucial impetus for a team. Coach Stefan Leitl himself has expressed hope that this success will liberate the team’s potential.