SV Darmstadt 98 aims to extend their home record. However, the task ahead is a tough one: As the league's best home team, the Lilies host Hannover 96, the second-best away team and also their direct rivals in the standings. Both teams are deservedly in the top third of the table, having impressed both offensively and defensively. We've compiled all the key facts and figures for Saturday evening's second division clash. Here you'll find the top facts about the match between the team from southern Hesse and the Lower Saxony side.
Saturday evening. 8:30pm. Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. This scenario will likely be familiar to anyone whose heart beats for Darmstadt 98. The match against Hannover 96 is already the sixth home game at this time of year for the team from southern Hesse. Of the five previous encounters, Florian Kohfeldt’s team has emerged victorious three times and drawn twice. In fact, Darmstadt 98 is the only team in the top two leagues still undefeated at home. They have recorded ten wins and four draws. In their 14 home games, they have scored a total of 29 goals, and goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen has kept seven clean sheets. Hannover, on the other hand, is particularly impressive away from home. They have scored at least once in every away game and have even scored more than once in eleven of their 14 matches. Only Hertha BSC has a better away record.
The team from southern Hesse scored 50 goals – the most in the current second division season. Hannover has found the net 47 times, but generates the greatest overall scoring threat with an expected goals (EGG) of 59.5. However, Christian Titz’s team has the weakest finishing efficiency. Benjamin Källman is not only Hannover’s top scorer, but also the third-highest scorer in the league. He hasn’t scored in six games, though he only came off the bench in the last two competitive matches. Nevertheless, his 13 goals this season have amply demonstrated his goalscoring prowess.
Both teams have not only consistently showcased their attacking qualities, but have also performed more than adequately defensively. Marcel Schuhen has conceded 32 goals. Hannover has allowed 35 goals, while the league average is 41.
Three players will be unavailable for this match due to yellow card suspensions. Darmstadt will be missing two key players: Isac Lidberg, who has already scored 14 goals for the home side, and Kai Klefisch, a tireless midfielder who averages 12.18 kilometres per game. Hannover will also be without a player. Daisuke Yokota, a winger for Hannover, will also be watching from the stands. This season, he has only been an unused substitute twice and was not even in the squad once – in the first leg against Darmstadt.
SV 98 has won ten of its last 13 competitive matches against Hannover 96, and Darmstadt head coach Florian Kohfeldt also has fond memories of encounters with the Lower Saxony side. He celebrated his first Bundesliga victory against Hannover with Werder Bremen in 2017, and with Darmstadt he has also won all three matches against the current fifth-placed team.
The first game had already provided plenty of excitement. Darmstadt took an early lead at the Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena, then conceded two goals before Corredor leveled the score once again. The longer the game went on, the more frantic it became. Both teams were desperate for the three points and increasingly opened up their defences. Then, in the 94th minute: the ball came to Killian Corredor, who backheeled it to Hiroki Akiyama. The Japanese player fired the ball against the inside of the post, from where it bounced into the net. A liberating goal, and so the three points finally made their way to southern Hesse.
Time and again, the ball rattles the opposing goal whenever a Darmstadt player tries to put the ball in the net. The South Hessians have already been unlucky enough to hit the woodwork 16 times. Hannover have struck the crossbar or post just as often. The first game is a prime example. There, the spectators not only witnessed five goals, but also saw the ball hit the woodwork five times – a season record for a single match.
Hannover 96 coach Christian Titz has a clear vision of how he wants his team to play, and this is reflected in the statistics. His players are dominant and, with 56 percent possession, have the most of the ball in the second division. This is also due to their exceptional ball control. Hannover boasts the best pass completion rate in the league at 86 percent.
Three players from southern Hesse are carrying four yellow cards ahead of the match against Titz’s team: Fraser Hornby, Merveille Papela, and Aleksandar Vukotic.
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
|
Home |
14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 25:14 |
|
Away |
15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 27:27 |
|
Overall |
29 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 52:41 |
The pairings for the first round of the DFB Cup have been drawn: SV Darmstadt 98 will face FC Carl Zeiss Jena away from home. The draw took place on Saturday evening (June 6th) at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. Under the supervision of DFB Vice President Peter Frymuth, Referee of the Year 2026, Deniz Aytekin, who acted as the draw's host live on ARD, drew the match between Darmstadt and Jena.
From the warm opening ceremony to the awards ceremony: The German Football ID Championship in Darmstadt offered exciting games, many wonderful encounters and a well-deserved German champion in the Hesse selection, which also included players from the SV 98 ID team.
The first dates for SV 98's preparations for the 2026/27 second division season have been set: On June 25th, the professional team will return to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor to undergo various medical tests and performance diagnostics. The first team training session will take place on June 27th in the Odenwald region.
Who will SV Darmstadt 98 face in the first round of the DFB Cup? This question will be answered this coming Saturday (June 6th). The draw for the first round will be broadcast live on ARD's Sportschau. We'll be taking a look and providing you with all the information. We'll also be celebrating with the fan team's survival in the Kreisklasse B (eighth tier) and taking a look across the border to Texas in the USA. All this and more for you in "Lilies Across the Board" on Wednesday.
Fraser Hornby's time at Darmstadt 98 comes to an end after three years. The Scottish attacking midfielder is moving to VfL Wolfsburg. Both clubs have agreed to keep the transfer fee confidential.
An eight-goal thriller to close out the season. The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team took to the pitch one last time this season on Saturday (May 30th) – away against FC Eddersheim. The young Lilies secured a 5-3 victory in Eddersheim, finishing the 2025/26 Hessenliga season in eleventh place. Even more remarkable, however, was the U21's run at the end of the season: the Blue and Whites won their last five matches, scoring an impressive 22 goals in the process.
Barcelona, Spain. A global city right on the Mediterranean. Over 1.7 million people live here. And one of them is Clemens Riedel. The 22-year-old former Darmstadt player moved from SV 98 to Espanyol Barcelona last summer – from youth academy to professional in the Spanish first division. We spoke with Riedel about his first year in Barcelona, the past season, and his still close ties to Darmstadt.
SV 98 can continue to rely on the services of Fabian Nürnberger. The Lilies have extended the expiring contract with the Bulgarian international.
Grayson Dettoni will continue to wear the SV 98 jersey. The Lilies have exercised their option to buy the defender, who was previously on loan from FC Bayern Munich.
The German Football Championship for People with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) kicks off on Sunday – and it's taking place in Darmstadt's Bürgerpark! Last week, the Darmstadt 98ers' home ground offered a different kind of sporting event: a karate demonstration. We also take a look at the opponents for the new season and celebrate two birthdays this week. You'll find all this and much more about Darmstadt 98 in our usual "Lilies Across the Board".
„I’m proud of you,“ were the words of U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt to the team after they secured their place in the Hessenliga. On Saturday (May 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team had the chance to stay in the league against Turabdin Babylon Pohlheim – and they seized it impressively! The young Lilies delivered a convincing 5-1 goal fest, but at the same time still needed help from other teams to guarantee their survival. However, because their direct rivals, CSC 03 Kassel, narrowly lost in Stadtallendorf, the U21 team was finally able to celebrate.
For the fourth time, the Haftpflichtkasse insurance company and SV Darmstadt 98 have jointly awarded four clubs with the Volunteer Award. The award ceremony, including the presentation of the checks, took place last Sunday (May 17th) before the home game against SC Paderborn at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The Volunteer Award, established in 2023 by the Haftpflichtkasse and SV Darmstadt 98, aims to strengthen volunteer engagement and promote outstanding projects.