„Great respect, but we are full of confidence.“

The competitive season of 2026 kicks off! Darmstadt 98 will start their second half of the season on Sunday (January 18th, 1:30pm) away against VfL Bochum. How does Florian Kohfeldt assess their upcoming opponent? What is Darmstadt 98's approach? And how much are they looking forward to the second half of the season? The Darmstadt head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Friday afternoon (January 16th) ahead of the match at the Ruhrstadion. We've summarised the most important statements for you.

Knee injury: Bader will be unavailable for SV 98

Matthias Bader was diagnosed with a torn medial meniscus in his right knee during examinations this week. The 28-year-old had complained of knee problems during the training camp in El Saler and had to take a break from training. Bader underwent successful surgery on Wednesday (January 14th). The full-back will therefore be unavailable to Darmstadt for the next few weeks.

Fan information for the Bochum match

The second half of the season is about to begin, and Darmstadt 98 will be traveling a good 266 kilometres to their away match against VfL Bochum on Sunday (January 18th, 1:30pm). This report provides you with all the important information for your visit to the stadium.

Facts & Figures: The top facts about the Bochum game

The last victory in Bochum was a long time ago. To be precise, Darmstadt's last three points at VfL Bochum were in 1979. Darmstadt's current unbeaten run spans seven games – and they intend to carry this trend into the second half of the season. Things are also going well at the Castroper Straße stadium since Uwe Rösler took over as coach. We've compiled these and other statistics for you. Here are the top facts about the match between VfL Bochum and SV Darmstadt 98.

Opposition Check: VfL Bochum

"Deep in the West, where the sun is dusty..." – The opening lines of Herbert Grönemeyer's cult song "Bochum" are more than just music. They represent a feeling, a way of life, that becomes palpable in the Ruhrstadion when thousands of voices sing along at the top of their lungs and blue and white scarves are held aloft. The song speaks of toughness, honesty, and solidarity – exactly what VfL Bochum stands for. A club that never needed to shine to be loved, but always thrived on fighting spirit and down-to-earth values.

600 guests at the New Year’s reception | ‚Heading to Bochum with pride‘

Tradition, commitment, and a sporting focus: At the New Year's reception in the State Theatre, the Lilies, together with 600 invited guests, looked ahead to the year 2026. There was also reason to celebrate: Marcel Schuhen turned 33 on the day of the reception. On the sporting front, Marco Richter focused on the start of the second half of the season. You can read these and other news items in our weekly column "Lilies Across the Board."

“Darmstadt 98 is a special anchor”

From the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor to the Darmstadt State Theatre: SV 98 welcomed over 600 invited guests to its annual New Year's reception at Darmstadt's cultural centre on Tuesday evening (January 13th). Representatives from politics, sports, and the club's partners and sponsors enjoyed an entertaining evening. A particular highlight: The Lilies were able to announce the contract extension with their main and kit sponsor, HAIX, on the State Theatre stage.

Software AG Lilies Promotional Training: New dates from January 19th

The ball will be rolling again at the Merck Youth Performance Center in 2026, and the Software AG-Lilien development training program of SV Darmstadt 98 for outfield players and goalkeepers will be entering its next round. You can find all the information here.

Away game in Braunschweig: Member presale starts Friday

To mark the 22nd matchday of the 2. Bundesliga, SV Darmstadt 98 will travel to Braunschweig for their away game against Eintracht Braunschweig on Saturday (February 14th, 1pm). Members can go on sale for this match this coming Friday (January 16th) at noon. All further information can be found in this announcement.

HAIX and SV 98 extend their partnership

HAIX reaffirms its commitment to the Lilies: The main and jersey sponsor of SV Darmstadt 98 will remain on board beyond the current season. The internationally recognised specialist for functional footwear and apparel from Bavaria and the traditional South Hessian club announced the extension until at least June 2027 on Tuesday evening during the New Year's reception at the Darmstadt State Theatre.