Darmstadt (dpa / lhe) - Second division soccer team SV Darmstadt 98 has been unbeaten for eight games. This should also remain the case at SC Paderborn 07 when the third-placed team from Hesse meets second. "The declared goal is to get three points. Just like in every game. Paderborn is currently the strongest team in the second division. Like us, they have a very good team structure," said coach Torsten Lieberknecht before the top game on Friday evening ( 6:30 p.m./Sky).
Tactically, the 49-year-old expects an interesting game. For his team, it's about getting a good balance between offense and defense. "We've had a week full of analysis. Paderborn is incredibly flexible," said Lieberknecht. But his team is also difficult to crack. "We have integrated a completely new game system this season. There are still subtleties that we can improve," emphasized the coach.
The international break was important for him and the players, where players like Magnus Warming and Mathias Honsak in particular were able to get match practice in the friendly against third division team SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Others like Tobias Kempe, on the other hand, were able to take a breather. That doesn't apply to Klaus Gjasula, who featured twice for Albania. Lieberknecht was particularly looking forward to his return. "When he comes back from the national team, I'm interested in how his coach interprets the games and what things are important to him. Klaus then keeps telling things that also help me as a coach," said Lieberknecht.
In Paderborn he has to do without strikers Oscar Vilhelmsson and Aaron Seydel. The Swede is out with a flu, Seydel has a small torn fibre. "Otherwise we'll have to see how Gjasula comes back from the national team: he's had two intense games behind him," said Lieberknecht.
