What is the record in previous meetings with Darmstadt 98? What threat do the promoted club pose to FCB? And who will take charge of the first home Bundesliga clash against the men from Hessen in 36 years? fcbayern.de has compiled the best of the pre-match stats and facts.
Reds yet to lose
FC Bayern have faced SV Darmstadt eight times in competitive fixtures, and the record is clearly in favour of the German record champions: FCB have won seven and drawn one, beating Darmstadt in all of their last five encounters. The only time the Lilies salvaged a point was in the first Bundesliga meeting, a 1-1 draw at the Olympic stadium more than 37 years ago.
Best home team v strong away team
With 30 points and a goal difference of +31 FC Bayern are not only the strongest home team in the current campaign, but also the best team in the Bundesliga's history after ten matches on home soil. But beware! The visitors are the league's third-best away team. The men from Hesse have clocked up 17 points in ten matches, winning five and drawing two.
Miserable yield for promoted teams
It has been no bed of roses for Bundesliga novices in recent encounters with FC Bayern. The German record champions have won all of their last 23 matches against promoted sides, scoring 77 and conceding 10 goals. The last defeat to a promoted team dates back to August 2010, a 2-0 reverse away to Kaiserslautern.
Darmstadt dangerous at set pieces
The side lying 13th in the table are the most successful Bundesliga team when it comes to set pieces. The Lilies have scored 13 goals from dead ball situations, including six from corners. On average Darmstadt only require 14 corners per goal. In addition, the visitors are the most dangerous Bundesliga team when it comes to headers, netting nine times.
Lewandowski almost as dangerous as Darmstadt
Robert Lewandowski has scored 21 goals in 21 Bundesliga matches so far, netting only one less than Darmstadt as a team. Lewandowski's tally is the best since the 1972/73 season, when Gerd Müller boasted 23 goals at the same stage of the competition.
Weiner in charge
Michael Weiner, one of the Bundesliga’s most experienced match officials, has been appointed referee for the home meeting with the Lilies. The 46-year-old police superintendent from Giesen has taken charge of 234 German top flight matches to date, including 41 involving FC Bayern, most recently the 2-0 home win against Ingolstadt last December. FCB have only lost four matches with Weiner as the referee. His assistants on Saturday are Norbert Grudzinski and Holger Henschel, with Guido Winkmann as the fourth official.
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