What makes Hertha BSC so strong in this 2. Bundesliga season? What kind of match can fans at Berlin's Olympic Stadium expect? And what's the mood like within the SV Darmstadt 98 squad? At the press conference on Friday (January 30th), Darmstadt head coach Florian Kohfeldt answered these and other questions. We've summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Matthias Bader, Bartosz Bialek and Killian Corredor remain sidelined with injuries. All other players are available.
Hertha remains the undisputed top favourite in the league. Along with Hannover, they boast the strongest squad in terms of individual talent. Hertha, along with us, is the most in-form team in the league, having earned 19 points from their last ten matches. While they started the second half of the season with two draws, they were clearly the better team in both games – especially in their home match against Schalke. They were also very dominant at the end of the second half in Karlsruhe. We’re facing a team with a lot of attacking quality. Overall, their squad possesses incredible quality. They have players who really shouldn’t be playing in the second division – like Reese, Cuisance, and Kownacki. Compared to the first leg, they also have Seguin, who provides a real rhythm on the pitch. And Dardai is the most technically gifted centre-back in the league. Defensively, they’ve lost their most aggressive defender with Zefuuik suspended, but they are still very well-coordinated and press with a clear system.
We can certainly look forward to a top-class match. Hertha is an opponent we’ve studied very intensively, and we had to. They’ve certainly done the same for us. We can cause them problems with our style of play. Therefore, I’m looking forward to a top-class match. And top matches are usually decided by the smallest of margins. So we’re very focused and looking forward to a heated game in cold Berlin.
The mood in the team – and this is how I see it – is basically the same as it has been all season. We were happy about the win and the performance against Nürnberg. On Wednesday, we analysed the Nürnberg game, focusing on what we can learn from it. Then, at the beginning of the week, we had some really excellent, high-intensity, and very sharp training sessions. So, our focus immediately shifted back to the next game. We’re confident, focused, and really eager. These are generally good conditions. We’re concentrating solely on Berlin and nothing else. We’re concentrating on our actions, what we want to do, and how we want to do it. That’s an important attitude. It’s about never losing your head, even if you concede a goal. It’s about staying grounded and concentrating on what you’re doing. And that’s exactly what the lads are doing.
Fabian Holland and Fabian Nürnberger are both options for the starting eleven again. Niklas Schmidt completed a very intensive training session on Wednesday without any problems; the intensity was roughly equivalent to 60 to 70 minutes of a match. Therefore, based purely on his fitness level, he would certainly be an option to start for around 60 minutes. We’re talking about the positions he can play, but also about key players. Everyone who plays in his positions is that extra bit sharper because they know someone has joined the team who can also play there very well. For a coach, that’s a fantastic situation.
From the very beginning of this transfer window, we said that after Meldin Dreskovic’s departure, we wanted to bring in someone for the centre-back position – a player with potential for development. I can say that we’ve made significant progress in our search.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: