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.
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:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
