Almost 1,600 SV Darmstadt 98 fans will accompany their team to Elversberg next Saturday (August 31st/1pm). The guest block is sold out. But before the ball rolls in Saarland, Torsten Lieberknecht answered journalists' questions at the press conference on Thursday (August 29). Which players are available? How does the head coach of SV 98 see the development of his team? And how does he view the upcoming opponent? We have summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Fabian Holland, Oscar Vilhelmsson (adductor problems), Klaus Gjasula (Achilles tendon problems) and Christoph Zimmermann (back problems) are not there. Guille Bueno and Sergio Lopez are back in full team training. Alexander Brunst still needs a little time, but he is also back in full team training.
We analysed the game against 1. FC Nürnberg analytically. We mainly showed the team the good scenes, of which there was a lot of material. But the point against Nuremberg felt like a defeat because our performance was too good for that.
Overall, we feel that development has increased enormously. It was important that the fans saw against Nürnberg: we are not just talking about development, but something is really growing together. Because of the guys who have joined again, but also because automatisms are getting more and more rolling and functioning. If everything works, we are a team that can generate power with and against the ball. That’s what we’ve been prioritising this week to stay positive. Nevertheless, we are of course not satisfied with our situation without a win and with only one point. We want to change that.
I once played with Saarbrücken in the derby against SV Elversberg. Since then, the club has celebrated many successes and developed steadily. Elversberg has a technically very demanding team that I saw live more often last season. They have been swimming on the same wave for a long time; they are a mature team with fixed processes and fixed structures. Overall, the SVE has an exciting team that is not so easy to analyse.
Every game has a different story. We have to build on the Nürnberg performance. The Elversbergers will have something against us getting our first win. We set a mark against Nürnberg as to what we can play. If we continue to develop, improve and take advantage of our opportunities, we will get the three points.
We invest a lot of time in set pieces. But if one or the other doesn’t maintain their position perfectly or clear the space, the ball may have been kicked no matter how well. Some of the balls came perfectly where we wanted them to go. There are details that we need to improve. But it’s also a fact: If you have a lot of set pieces and especially corners, you’ve had a lot of shots on the opponent’s goal beforehand.
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.