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.
Attention Lilien fans: During SV Darmstadt 98’s training camp in Bad Wörishofen (Allgäu region)—taking place from July 19th to July 26th, 2026—there will once again be an opportunity to meet the team, chat with the players, and, of course, get autographs and photos. The fan meet-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, following the friendly match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Kick-off for the match is at 12pm.
SV 98 remains active in the transfer market. The "Lilies" have signed Christopher Lannert from Arminia Bielefeld.
Friendly matches, fundraising campaigns, and plenty of photos—that’s what the week looked like for SV 98 and the club’s community. Between their 5–1 victory over FC Homburg and the upcoming friendly in Walldorf this Friday (July 17), the „Lilies“ showed their best side for the cameras. In addition, the SV 98 legends team will face an Odenwald select squad on Sunday (July 19th). You can also win great prizes in competitions taking place in Erbach and at the pop-up store in downtown Darmstadt. Lilies Across the Board brings you all the latest news from life at SV 98.
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.