On Sunday (August 25th/1:30pm) SV 98 welcomes 1. FC Nürnberg to the sold-out Merck Stadium. How does Torsten Lieberknecht see his upcoming opponent? Which players are available? And how does the head coach assess the squad situation after Guille Bueno's loan? These and other questions were answered on Friday at the press conference before the game.
Personnel update: Alexander Brunst, Fabian Holland, Othmane El idrissi are missing for known reasons. In addition, Sergio Lopez (individual training after thigh problems) and Guille Bueno (small, but now almost completely healed, muscle fiber tear from his time at BVB) are also out; both are scheduled to start team training next week. Matze Bader has a bruise and will decide at the final training session whether he can give the green light for Sunday.
It was a win that was good. But nothing more. But it’s always nice when you win. We have worked through it seriously and now the 2nd Bundesliga and 1. FC Nürnberg are waiting.
Nürnberg plays in a 4-3-3, but also switched to a 4-2-3-1 during the build-up, which means smooth transitions. They bring a lot of playful know-how, but also combine it with long and deep balls. They have strengths in football and in transition, but we also believe that we were able to discover weaknesses. Basically, we focused very much on ourselves.
I saw Bueno in his first game for BVB U23 in Wiesbaden. I’ve been a big fan of his ever since and have followed his journey. Our early focus was on him to fill the last open position. Now was the time for us to complete the squad.
Of course, as long as a transfer window is open, something can always happen in both directions. But the fact is that all positions in our squad are now filled twice and, above all, have been filled really well. We now have a squad that shows what it means to be competitive. This situation also makes the players better because they have to step up their game.
With Luca Marseiler we have a player who is similar to Marvin’s profile. Marvin is often mistakenly seen as a ten, although it is interesting to talk to people about what they mean by a ten. For example, our tens are most likely to be our sixes. But with Marseiler and Hornby we have players who can fill a more offensive position in the center. Killian Corredor isn’t necessarily a classic striker either; he can also play on the wing or behind the strikers. What is clear, however, is that both he and Isac Lidberg are much more offensive players than Marvin was.
For someone from the Palatinate and for someone who is close to 1. FC Kaisersluatern, Miro was of course a very well-known player. His sporting achievements and career are beyond any question. Now he is the coach of a very renowned club.
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.