The top match of the 2nd Bundesliga is something special. When FC Schalke 04 travels to southern Hesse to face SV Darmstadt 98, the league leaders and second-placed team will clash on Saturday evening (March 21st/8:30pm). Offensively strong Darmstadt against defensively solid Schalke. All the important facts and figures about Saturday evening's duel are compiled for you here in the Top Facts.
For the second time this second-division season, the top two teams are facing off. This was the case on matchday 14, when FC Schalke 04 battled SC Paderborn and overtook SCP at the top of the table. However, it’s not just the top two teams in the league that are facing off, but also the best offence and the best defence. When SV Darmstadt 98 fans go to the stadium, they usually have something to cheer about: the ball has found the back of the net 48 times against the Lilies‘ opponents. On the other hand, Schalke regularly shut down their goal. Conceding only 23 goals is the best record in the league – which is also due to the fact that they have allowed the fewest shots on goal overall (246).
The two teams have already met twice this season, back in October. Schalke won the league match with a narrow 1-0 victory, inflicting one of Darmstadt’s only three defeats this season. Moussa Sylla, who scored the winning goal that day, has been more of a reserve player since the second half of the season, but could see more playing time due to Edin Dzeko’s suspension.
However, Darmstadt responded just a few days later in the DFB Cup round of 16. Playing at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, they dominated from the outset and advanced to the next round with a resounding 4-0 victory.
Saturday evening, Böllenfalltor. These two words surely make the heart of every Darmstadt 98 supporter swell with excitement. It’s already the fifth match of the season to kick off at the Merck Stadium at 8:30pm. Darmstadt have remained undefeated throughout. But it’s not just at this special time that they shine in front of their home crowd. Their last defeat on their own turf was on May 3, 2025, against HSV. This season, they’ve conceded only nine goals in their 13 home games so far and kept seven clean sheets. In the last five matches at the Bölle, Marcel Schuhen has only had to pick the ball out of his net once – in the game against Fortuna Düsseldorf.
One area where Darmstadt 98 often excels is set pieces. Their 15 goals from set pieces are an impressive tally. Only Paderborn and Bielefeld have scored more, with 16 goals each. Schalke 04 also seems to thrive in this statistic, having scored almost a third (38 percent) of their goals from set pieces.
Isac Lidberg, Darmstadt’s top scorer, now has 13 goals in the current second-division season and leads the scoring charts alongside Benjamin Källman (Hannover 96) and Marvin Wanitzek (Karlsruher SC). During the 1-0 defeat against Miron Muslic’s team, fans were eagerly anticipating a striker duel between Isac Lidberg and Moussa Sylla. However, this didn’t materialise due to the Swede’s injury last October.
Now, ahead of the return leg, many football fans were not only looking forward to the clash between the two teams, but also to a potential encounter between Edin Dzeko in Schalke’s attack and Isac Lidberg in the Darmstadt forward line. However, Dzeko’s red card suspension will prevent this as well. Nevertheless, Kenan Karaman, with eleven goals, is also near the top of the scoring charts, sitting in fifth place, and has a significant impact on Schalke’s attacking play.
Five of Kohfeldt’s players will go into Saturday evening’s top match with four yellow cards. Luca Marseiler, Fraser Hornby, Isac Lidberg, Merveille Papela, and Aleksandar Vukotic are at risk of suspension if they receive another yellow card.
For the visitors, Ron Schallenberg, Soufiane El-Faouzi, and Mertcan Ayhan will travel to Darmstadt with four yellow cards each.
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
|
Home |
12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 19:21 |
|
Away |
10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 17:27 |
|
Overall |
22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 36:48 |
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.