Highlights
0:28
Watch: Xabi Alonso looks ahead to Bayern showdown
Full-time: Darmstadt 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
© IMAGO/Patrick Scheiber
Full-time
90'
+ 3
Substitution
90'
Four minutes of stoppage time indicated
Xabi Alonso's men can celebrate soon, surely...
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
Substitution
88'
Tapsoba back
A pleasing substitution for Leverkusen. Granit Xhaka has avoided getting a fifth yellow card of the season and can therefore play in the huge clash against Bayern Munich next weekend, while Edmond Tapsoba makes his first appearance after returning from the African Cup of Nations.
86'
Final furlong for Leverkusen
The visitors continue to thread trademark short passes to retain possession and click the tock even closer to the 90-minute mark.
81'
Two more changes for Darmstadt
One of those is enforced, with Matej Maglica taking a blow to his knee and requiring treatment before coming off.
81'
Substitution
81'
Substitution
77'
Hofmann off the bench
Jonas Hofmann was given a rare substitutes' berth today but comes on for Wirtz with around 15 minutes remaining.
77'
Substitution
75'
Wirtz hits the bar
So close to a third! Marcel Schuhen gifts the ball to Leverkusen on the edge of the box, and Florian Wirtz is teed up but sends his shot into the woodwork.
72'
No hurry for Bayer
Leverkusen are passing the ball around with ease, in full knowledge that Darmstadt have no chance of threatening when they retain possession.
68'
Franjić booked
Bartol Franjić tugs at Granit Xhaka to stop a break and is booked.
67'
Substitution
67'
Triple change for the hosts
Darmstadt need inspiration from somewhere if they are to spark a shock comeback - three pairs of fresh legs will try to do just that.
67'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
64'
Clear upper hand
Goal attempts
2off target
4on target
8off target
5on target
59'
Tella has another effort
He can't get a hat-trick on his first Bundesliga start, can he? Tella tries to curl an effort from the edge of the box, but it takes a deflection and is saved.
52'
Tella smashes home Leverkusen's second!
A thunderbolt from Tella! Florian Wirtz lays the ball off to the right from the edge of the box and Nathan Tella smashes straight past Marcel Schuhen to double Leverkusen's lead and complete his brace!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Shot speed
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
49'
Zimmermann booked
The Darmstadt defender brings Florian Wirtz down and sees yellow.
Tella's opener
© Markus Gilliar
47'
Hard-working Werkself
46'
Off we go again
The hosts start the second half.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Darmstadt 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
© IMAGO/RHR-FOTO
Half-time
45'
+ 1
Pfeiffer stopped
Once again Darmstadt thread together an encouraging attack, but Luca Pfeiffer's shot from the edge of the box is saved comfortably.
45'
Wirtz effort saved
The leaders are looking to press on with a second goal, but Wirtz can't send his drive past Schuhen. Two additional minutes are indicated.
© IMAGO/RHR-FOTO
42'
Iglesias denied
Leverkusen debutant Borja Iglesias finds the ball run his way just in front of goal, but Marcel Schuhen gets out to smother his shot. The Darmstadt goalkeeper then denies Robert Andrich moments later.
39'
Karic header saved
Emir Karic sends a powerful header on target from a Tim Skarke corner, but it goes straight at Lukáš Hrádecký, who saves.
37'
That has shaken things up!
The opening goal for the league leaders is forcing Darmstadt to commit a few more men forward - and consequently leaving a bit more space for Leverkusen to play in going forward.
33'
Tella puts Leverkusen in front!
Leverkusen's game of patience in this first-half pays off! Alejandro Grimaldo swings a cross over from the left and Nathan Tella sneaks ahead of his marker to head in at the far post for his third goal of the season.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
Chance for Vilhelmsson
Luca Pfeiffer threaded a pass across the box for Oscar Vilhelmsson, who was practically through on goal, but took a swing and a miss of the ball.
25'
Even encounter so far
Leverkusen have bossed the ball, as expected, but Darmstadt have dropped back and given the leaders very little space to play in. The Lillies have seen a few half-chances fall their way too, with Luca Pfeiffer just having a shot saved after a fluent attack.
20'
Zimmermann has a header
Christoph Zimmermann heads on goal from a Fabian Holland corner, but it's a looping effort that Lukáš Hrádecký comfortably saves.
18'
Tella shoots
New loan signing Borja Iglesias links up with Nathan Tella - who is also making his first Bundesliga start for Leverkusen today, but Tella's shot is blocked.
16'
Hložek fires wide
Leverkusen's first chance sees Alejandro Grimaldo cut the ball back to Adam Hložek, who steers the ball wide from the edge of the box.
13'
Leverkusen controlling the ball
Possession (%)
3268
9'
Wirtz weaves into box
The Leverkusen playmaker shows his sprightly feet for the first time today, weaving into the area from the left, but his cutback is cleared.
7'
Andrich booked
The Leverkusen midfielder sees yellow for clattering into Fabian Holland with a high boot.
6'
Quiet start
Asides from that one effort in the opening seconds, there is nothing to write home about yet - Leverkusen are focusing their early endeavours on dominating possession, as expected.
1'
First effort from Darmstadt
Gerrit Holtmann cracks a shot wide within the opening 20 seconds - perhaps an indication of just how determined Darmstadt are to spring an upset today...
1'
Off we go!
The leaders kick off.
Kick-off!
The players are out
We're ready for the battle of bottom v top in the Bundesliga!
First starts for Tella and Iglesias
© INA FASSBENDER
More on that Darmstadt team
The hosts also make five changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Union Berlin last Sunday. Maglica, Zimmermann, Holtmann, Karic and Vilhelmsson are in for Klarer, Gjasula (both on the bench), Riedel, Justvan and Nürnberger (all injured).
More on that Leverkusen team
Xabi Alonso makes no fewer than five changes to the side that started the 0-0 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend. Hradecky, Tah, Hlozek, Tella and Iglesias are in for Kovar, Frimpong, Hofmann, Schick (all on the bench) and Amiri (who has moved to Mainz).
0:17
Here come the league leaders
0:15
The quiet before the storm
0:12
Inside the hosts' dressing room
Darmstadt starting XI
Schuhen - Bader, Zimmerman, Maglica - Holtmann, Franjić, Holland (c), Karić - Vilhelmsson, Skarke - Pfeiffer
Darmstadt subs
Brunst, Klarer, J. Mülller, Mehlem, Kempe, A. Müller, Gjasula, Polter, Torsiello
Leverkusen starting XI
Hrádecký (c) - Stanišić, Tah, Hincapié - Tella, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Hložek, Wirtz - Iglesias
Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Tapsoba, Fosu-Mensah, Frimpong, Hofmann, Mbamba, Puerta, Schick, Adli
'Never again is now!'
Under this slogan, German professional football is commemorating the victims of National Socialism on and around 27 January, the date of liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. This is the 20th year in which the DFL and the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs have been involved in the “day of commemoration in German football” in cooperation with the “!Nie Wieder” (“!Never Again”) initiative. In light of current events, the day of commemoration around Matchdays 19 and 20 (26–28 January and 2–4 February) will focus on the topic of antisemitism.
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Lieberknecht's view on Darmstadt
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Julien Christ/IMAGO/Beautiful Sports
Alonso's view on Darmstadt
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Axel Kohring
Twenty-ninth time unlucky?
Leverkusen have gone 28 games unbeaten in a single season once before, in Bundesliga 2 (1979). That run was ended at the 29th attempt, by Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Probable line-ups
© IMAGO/Eibner
2:03
Watch: Leverkusen 5-1 Darmstadt - previous meeting
3:56
Watch: Union Berlin 1-0 Darmstadt - highlights
4:04
Watch: Leverkusen 0-0 Gladbach - highlights
Hello and welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 20 fixture between Darmstadt and Leverkusen.