Darmstadt (dpa/lhe) - Despite the recent setbacks, Darmstadt 98 goes into the second division football game on Sunday (1.30 p.m. / Sky) at 1. FC Kaiserslautern without frustration due to two draws. "The atmosphere is good," said goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen with 14 points after seven games. In their own stadium there were only points shared against 1. FC Heidenheim (2:2) and Arminia Bielefeld (1:1).
"Kaiserslautern managed to take the euphoria of promotion with them. They have a strong team with a good name," said Darmstadt coach Torsten Lieberknecht on Friday about the Palatinate's good start to the season. "Nevertheless, we have to take care of ourselves and keep working on our game. We want to be unpredictable and push our game through."
He found words of praise for his fellow coach Dirk Schuster, who had been hired in Darmstadt in 2012 and had made it through from the 3rd division to the Bundesliga with the Hessian club. "Dirk Schuster and his coaching staff have done wonders here in Darmstadt. So Dirk is very closely linked to the history of Darmstadt 98," said Lieberknecht. "Our relationship is characterized by mutual respect."
Against Lautern, Darmstadt again had to do without Swedish striker Oscar Vilhelmsson. Emir Karic trained with the team again this week and Mathias Honsak took part in part of the team training, Lieberknecht reported. "So there are a few guys coming back but they still need time to reach their full fitness," he said.
