VfL Bochum managed to play in the top flight for four consecutive years. However, last season saw a painful relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. Now the Westphalians are looking to get back on the attack in the new season. On Saturday (August 3rd, 1pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will host VfL Bochum at home in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. We've compiled the most important facts and figures for you ahead of the 17th meeting between the two teams, before the first game of the season.
The Lilies can look back on a pleasing home record against VfL Bochum. In a total of eight home matches against the Westphalians, they have won four, drawn two, and lost only twice. In the 2. Bundesliga, SV 98 suffered only one home defeat against VfL – on September 10, 2017.
The most recent Bundesliga encounter, from the 2023/24 season, will also likely remain a positive memory for Lilies fans: Despite falling behind 2-0 away in Bochum, the Lilies showed great morale and secured a point with a 2-2 draw.
VfL Bochum is one of the top favourites for promotion in this second division season, as Florian Kohfeldt also noted at the press conference before the match. This claim is also historically substantiated: Bochum has made the jump from the 2. Bundesliga to the Bundesliga a total of seven times in its club history. Only 1. FC Nürnberg and Arminia Bielefeld have surpassed this record with eight promotions each.
VfL Bochum’s efficiency in achieving direct promotion is particularly remarkable. The Westphalians have returned to the top flight five times immediately after relegation – more than any other team in German professional football.
Both clubs announced significant new signings this summer with real pedigree – both athletically and literally of considerable stature.
Central defender Patric Pfeiffer celebrated his return to SV Darmstadt 98. The 1.96-meter-tall defender returned to the South Hesse club after a two-year absence and brings valuable experience as well as his physical presence.
VfL Bochum also strengthened its defense: Kevin Vogt, 1.94 meters tall and once trained at VfL, is back in the jersey of his boyhood club after many years in professional football.
A look at the previous duels between Darmstadt and Bochum suggests a close match: Only four of the 16 previous encounters have ended with a difference of more than one goal. Not a single game has been decided by a difference of more than two goals. A quick side note: Whenever there was a two-goal difference, Darmstadt always emerged victorious…
Only one player in this matchup knows the feeling of having played for both teams: Gerrit Holtmann. He wore the Lilies‘ jersey in the second half of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season while on loan from VfL Bochum. During this period, the winger made a total of ten appearances for SV Darmstadt 98.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12:6 |
| Away | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9:12 |
| Overall | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 21:18 |
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
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.