A furious opening, a spectacular finale. Ultimately, the Lilies prevailed against Hannover with a 3-1 (1-0) victory. After the match, the protagonists were suitably satisfied with their fourth home win in a row and the associated major step toward avoiding relegation.
„It was a dream start for us. We then entered a phase of 15 or 20 minutes in which we were very dominant. We could have taken a bigger lead there. After that, there was a phase in which Hannover had more control. We had several chances to score, but we no longer had control of the game. Hannover did that very well. I’m very happy that the team showed resilience after the 1-1 draw. We’re delighted with the home win against a very well-organised team in a really tough game. Nevertheless, we still need that one win, which we ideally want to achieve next week in Münster.“
On supporting the fans:
„The bond between the team and the fans is very close. We played up front in the first 15 minutes today, so the spectators really enjoyed themselves. And conversely, they were there when we were struggling. It’s extremely important that we have this connection. The Bölle can release a lot of energy like that.“
„Congratulations to Darmstadt on the win. We wanted to go into the game and gain confidence, especially at the beginning. That was the goal, to get into the game well. Then, after 17 seconds, we played a free kick into the opponent’s feet and conceded the 0-1. That wasn’t part of the plan. It led to us playing terribly for ten to 15 minutes. The 0-1 was immediately followed by another catastrophic misplaced pass, which almost led to the 0-2. But we then faced the resistance and gained stability in the first half. We played good football, we just lacked penetration in the box. In the second half, we were at least on par, and our hard work was rewarded with the 1-1 draw. Why we then immediately fell back into the same pattern and lacked all our energy is beyond me. Darmstadt used the 2-1 lead to recharge their batteries. Otherwise, we probably even have the opportunity to completely turn the game around. So we didn’t come back. And we only take responsibility for that.“
„An immensely important victory. Nevertheless, there are still twelve points up for grabs, so we’re not through yet. In recent weeks, it’s been primarily about the result, and four home wins in a row sounds very reasonable. These are important steps for our team. We obviously got off to a great start today, but in the euphoria of the early stages, we perhaps overpaced and wasted too much energy. Hannover then got better and better. Later on, we defended a little deeper and did well. Hannover were a really good opponent, and the win was hard work. Fortunately, we had the right response to the equaliser.“
„It’s always a great feeling to win at home. Our overall performance was very good. We dominated parts of the game, but in other periods we also had to defend well as a team. I don’t think I’ve ever scored so early in a game. For a striker, this is obviously the perfect start to a game. Our pressing worked very well, which suits us. Overall, our trend is heading in the right direction; we still have a few games left in which we want to continue this trend.“
From the warm opening ceremony to the awards ceremony: The German Football ID Championship in Darmstadt offered exciting games, many wonderful encounters and a well-deserved German champion in the Hesse selection, which also included players from the SV 98 ID team.
The first dates for SV 98's preparations for the 2026/27 second division season have been set: On June 25th, the professional team will return to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor to undergo various medical tests and performance diagnostics. The first team training session will take place on June 27th in the Odenwald region.
Who will SV Darmstadt 98 face in the first round of the DFB Cup? This question will be answered this coming Saturday (June 6th). The draw for the first round will be broadcast live on ARD's Sportschau. We'll be taking a look and providing you with all the information. We'll also be celebrating with the fan team's survival in the Kreisklasse B (eighth tier) and taking a look across the border to Texas in the USA. All this and more for you in "Lilies Across the Board" on Wednesday.
Fraser Hornby's time at Darmstadt 98 comes to an end after three years. The Scottish attacking midfielder is moving to VfL Wolfsburg. Both clubs have agreed to keep the transfer fee confidential.
An eight-goal thriller to close out the season. The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team took to the pitch one last time this season on Saturday (May 30th) – away against FC Eddersheim. The young Lilies secured a 5-3 victory in Eddersheim, finishing the 2025/26 Hessenliga season in eleventh place. Even more remarkable, however, was the U21's run at the end of the season: the Blue and Whites won their last five matches, scoring an impressive 22 goals in the process.
Barcelona, Spain. A global city right on the Mediterranean. Over 1.7 million people live here. And one of them is Clemens Riedel. The 22-year-old former Darmstadt player moved from SV 98 to Espanyol Barcelona last summer – from youth academy to professional in the Spanish first division. We spoke with Riedel about his first year in Barcelona, the past season, and his still close ties to Darmstadt.
SV 98 can continue to rely on the services of Fabian Nürnberger. The Lilies have extended the expiring contract with the Bulgarian international.
Grayson Dettoni will continue to wear the SV 98 jersey. The Lilies have exercised their option to buy the defender, who was previously on loan from FC Bayern Munich.
The German Football Championship for People with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) kicks off on Sunday – and it's taking place in Darmstadt's Bürgerpark! Last week, the Darmstadt 98ers' home ground offered a different kind of sporting event: a karate demonstration. We also take a look at the opponents for the new season and celebrate two birthdays this week. You'll find all this and much more about Darmstadt 98 in our usual "Lilies Across the Board".
„I’m proud of you,“ were the words of U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt to the team after they secured their place in the Hessenliga. On Saturday (May 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team had the chance to stay in the league against Turabdin Babylon Pohlheim – and they seized it impressively! The young Lilies delivered a convincing 5-1 goal fest, but at the same time still needed help from other teams to guarantee their survival. However, because their direct rivals, CSC 03 Kassel, narrowly lost in Stadtallendorf, the U21 team was finally able to celebrate.
For the fourth time, the Haftpflichtkasse insurance company and SV Darmstadt 98 have jointly awarded four clubs with the Volunteer Award. The award ceremony, including the presentation of the checks, took place last Sunday (May 17th) before the home game against SC Paderborn at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The Volunteer Award, established in 2023 by the Haftpflichtkasse and SV Darmstadt 98, aims to strengthen volunteer engagement and promote outstanding projects.
