How is Isac Lidberg's fitness? What can Darmstadt expect from Eintracht Braunschweig? And what is the current competition for places within the team? Head coach Florian Kohfeldt answered these and other questions ahead of Saturday's match at Eintracht Stadium (February 14th, 1pm). We've summarised the most important statements from our head coach's press conference for you.
Personnel update: Matthias Bader and Bartosz Bialek remain unavailable. Isac Lidberg’s participation is questionable.
Isac had a good week. It’s not a structural injury. Tomorrow we’ll decide whether it makes sense to take him with us. That also includes whether we give him another week so he’s fully available for the Düsseldorf match. That depends on tomorrow’s training session. Currently, the chances are 50/50. If he can play, I don’t see any limitations on his playing time. Isac is a top striker in this league, and we’re grateful for every minute he’s available.
It’s great to see that we have such a diverse attacking setup. We’re capable of scoring from different positions and in many different ways, and that means we have several goalscorers. Nevertheless, I’m naturally longing for the moment when Isac is back playing and in the starting eleven. It’s all the more pleasing, then, that the guys who don’t always start are ready when needed. We’ve talked a lot about Fynn, and rightly so; he’s a very good example of that.
Eintracht Braunschweig has collected 14 points from their last eight games. Only Magdeburg and we have earned more in that period. They lost one or two key players in the winter transfer window, but they also brought in a lot of quality.
They have a lot of power and pace in their back line. They play a physical game and have fast wingers. They are very good at winning second balls. Furthermore, they are a team that plays exactly the kind of game that we sometimes struggle with.
A huge challenge awaits us. We are aware of this and have great respect for Braunschweig. This is a matchup that doesn’t suit us perfectly. That makes it all the more important that we are aware of this and have the right answers.
The most important thing is that the starting point is the same: We’re traveling to face a brutally dangerous opponent. It’s going to be a really tough away game.
What’s different is that we’re not only traveling with more players than last year, but we’re also a year further along in terms of team stability and the knowledge that we’ve built a strong core. Many of the players who are important now went through this phase. But the biggest difference is that we’re traveling to Braunschweig with 20 players, not 11.
I don’t sense any signs in the team that anyone is taking things lightly. If you focus on the games week after week, deliver the performance, and win those games, it will inevitably be reflected in the standings. But that’s not a topic of conversation in the locker room. I didn’t notice any euphoria, just a focused continuation of our work. That’s why we’re handling it calmly. The fact is: we’re unbeaten in eleven games. That’s good for a team, but what’s crucial is how we deal with it. You have to draw confidence from it and know that you can trust the things we’re doing. Just because we’re top of the table now doesn’t mean our approach has changed.
I was very pleased with what we showed against Kaiserslautern. We’re in the fortunate position of having had another week of training, which has created excellent competition for places. If we look at Isac, Niklas, and Killian, we’re talking about three players who haven’t been in the starting eleven recently, but who absolutely have a legitimate claim to a starting spot. We had a very good training session yesterday, full of energy, intensity, and quality. The battle for places is on.
There are moments when players are disappointed by a decision and need a moment to realize that their role is important in the bigger picture. We address this through conversations. My goal is for everyone to know their role and be ready to contribute to the team’s success. With this clear understanding of roles, the team has developed a team spirit that can handle things a coach or manager can’t. That’s what we mean by building a core and stability. We’re reaping the benefits of that today.
As Florian Kohfeldt approached the team's dressing room at halftime, the Darmstadt head coach heard exactly one sentence: "It's not finished." Fraser Hornby had uttered it, setting the tone for his teammates and himself. What followed was a remarkable second half from Darmstadt 98 and a point against SV Elversberg, a point that, while likely insufficient for their promotion hopes in southern Hesse, nonetheless filled the Darmstadt fans with pride.
For every home goal scored by the Lilies, SV Darmstadt 98 fans will be doubly rewarded in the 2025/26 season. In addition to the joy and excitement, the Lilies' supporters will also receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.
They fought to the very end, playing with ten men, and tried everything. But in the end, Darmstadt had to settle for a 3-3 draw against SV Elversberg in the sold-out Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. How do the Darmstadt players and staff assess the passionate 90 minutes at the Bölle? What did both head coaches have to say about the match? We've compiled all the reactions for you.
No winner in the clash of the pursuers: Darmstadt 98's home game against SV Elversberg ended in a 3-3 (2-3) draw. After three consecutive defeats, SV 98 managed to secure at least a point and now has 51 points this season. Pfeiffer (14th minute) and Hornby (15th and 51st minutes) scored for the team from southern Hesse.
It's home game day at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. On Saturday evening, the 31st matchday of the 2. Bundesliga, SV Darmstadt 98 hosts SV Elversberg. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting eleven compared to last week. Raoul Petretta replaces Fabian Nürnberger (thigh injury). Yosuke Furukawa also starts in place of Killian Corredor against the team from Saarland.
A new match under the floodlights awaits! On Saturday evening (April 25th, 8:30pm), Darmstadt 98 play against SV Elversberg. What are the coaches' opinions before the game? Who will referee, broadcast, and commentate the match? And what kind of weather can Darmstadt fans expect at the stadium? All the information is compiled for you in "Matchday Guide."
What are Florian Kohfeldt's thoughts on Saturday evening's match (April 25th/8:30pm) against SV Elversberg? Where does he see the strengths of their upcoming opponent? And how does his team plan to get back on track after three consecutive defeats? The Darmstadt head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Friday (April 24th) in the catacombs of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. We've summarised Kohfeldt's key statements from the press conference for you.
On Saturday evening (April 26th/8:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will host the team from SV 07 Elversberg and asks you to take note of the following information.
In the world of football, a yo-yo team is a team that oscillates between two leagues – too good for one league, but not quite at the level of the next higher one. The result is usually many promotions and many relegations. But SV Elversberg is currently redefining the term. For several years now, the yo-yo has been taking SVE almost exclusively upwards.
Saturday evening at the Böllenfalltor, the seventh edition! This time, SV Darmstadt 98 hosts SV Elversberg at the Merck Stadium. Both teams are strong offensively and convincing defensively. But where do the differences lie? And in which statistics do both the team from southern Hesse and the Saarlanders lead the pack? We've compiled all the facts and figures for this match right here for you.
The news that Fabian Holland will no longer play for Darmstadt at the end of this season affected everyone at the club. We take a look at it. Also exciting this week: The U17s host Eintracht Frankfurt's youth team in Pfungstadt today, Wednesday (April 22nd/5pm) for the Hessian derby in the Hesse Cup; the Darmstadt first team will wear members' jerseys against SV Elversberg next Saturday (April 25th/8:30pm); and the Darmstadt VIP box has been temporarily converted into a yoga camp. "Darmstadt Across the Board" on Wednesday is available here.
The end of an era. Fabian Holland's twelfth season in the Lilies' jersey will be his last with SV 98. The 35-year-old's contract, which expires at the end of the season, will not be renewed. The club informed Holland of this decision in a confidential meeting. Both club and player agree to focus entirely on achieving the best possible end to the season until the final match and that any plans for a farewell celebration will depend on how the rest of the season unfolds.