Coach Alois Schwartz from the second division soccer club SV Sandhausen is enthusiastic about the work of those responsible at the top SV Darmstadt 98. “Hats off! The club is right where it is,” said the coach two days before the direct meeting on Friday (6:30 p.m. / Sky) in Sandhausen. “The quality of the individual players may not be as good as in Bielefeld, for example. But they know exactly what they have to do and the sense of achievement takes them further.” Schwartz also praised his colleague Torsten Lieberknecht, who, after the 2-1 win at Arminia Bielefeld, would like to take the momentum from the successful start of the second half of the season with him.

In terms of personnel, the SVS is probably only missing Kemal Ademi, who still has a training deficit after an injury. New signing Marcel Mehlem will join on Wednesday and could already be an option. With 26 field players and four goalkeepers, the squad is large, Schwartz admitted. “But we can react to injuries,” added the 55-year-old.

Although the change period in Germany has expired, something could still happen in Hardtwald. Marcel Ritzmaier and Arne Sicker no longer play a role in Schwartz’s plans. However, there are still no offers from abroad, confirmed the sporting director Mikayil Kabaca.

Table squad SV Sandhausen squad SV Darmstadt 98