Two wins from their first two matches: The Lilies haven't had such a successful start to the 2. Bundesliga in decades. With a third consecutive win, they could make a historic start to the season. The Darmstadt team has never started a 2. Bundesliga season with three wins in their history. To achieve this, the Lilies plan to give it their all on the pitch on Sunday (August 24th, 1:30pm) against Hertha BSC. You can read about other interesting statistics for Matchday 3 in our Top Facts.
After a commanding 4-1 opening victory against VfL Bochum and a 1-0 away win against 1. FC Nürnberg, the Lilies collected a whopping six points out of six in the second division. But that’s not the only remarkable thing. The two victories enabled the Lilies to achieve something special: For the first time since the 1987/88 season, the South Hesse team has started a second division season with two wins from two matches. This weekend’s match against Hertha could turn a special start into a historic one: The Lilies have never achieved three wins at the start of a second division season.
If Hertha had had a motto over the past seven months, it would have been: „If Reese doesn’t score, Hertha doesn’t win.“ The last time the Old Lady celebrated a victory without a goal from the striker was in January of this year – in a 2-1 away win in Paderborn, when Derry Scherhant and Michael Cuisance scored. Since then, Fabian Reese has always scored when Hertha Berlin emerged victorious. In the first two matches of this season, Reese has not been involved in a goal, meaning the Blue-Whites have yet to register three points. But in the duel against the Lilies, Reese will likely be highly motivated to change that.
The Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor is still an impregnable fortress for Hertha in the 2nd Bundesliga: The capital club has played in Darmstadt seven times in the German lower house, losing five times and sharing the points twice. Darmstadt should be warned, however, because the Berliners certainly know how to win at Böllenfalltor: Examples like the 2-0 cup defeat at home to Hertha in 2018 and the 2-0 home defeat in the Bundesliga in 2017 should serve as a warning to the South Hesse club that points aren’t necessarily a given on Sunday (August 24th).
Of course, season statistics after the second matchday are only partially meaningful due to the very limited sample size, but they can still reveal certain trends… And Darmstadt’s attacking power was a standout in the first two matchdays: With five goals after two games, only Arminia Bielefeld (seven) scored more. The South Hesse side are particularly fast-paced after winning the ball: six counter-attack shots and three counter-attack goals are both league-best figures this season.
The blue and white club colours of Hertha BSC are nothing new to Leitl—after all, he already wore them during his playing career, albeit with the blue and white Lilies. From 2004 to 2007, the former midfielder played for SV Darmstadt 98 in the Regionalliga Süd. In a total of 93 appearances for the 98ers, he scored 14 goals and provided three assists.
Jean-Paul Boëtius, a former Hertha player, plays for the Lilies. The Dutchman began his career at Feyenoord Rotterdam before moving to the Bundesliga via loans to Genk and Basel – first to Mainz 05, and later to Hertha BSC in the 2022/23 season. He made 21 Bundesliga appearances for the capital club. His resume includes 143 Bundesliga appearances, scoring twelve goals and providing 20 assists. Since joining SV 98, Boëtius has already made 13 second-division appearances, providing two assists.
Fabian Holland also once wore a Hertha jersey. The Berlin native progressed through all of the „Old Lady’s“ youth teams and made 25 competitive appearances for the first team before moving to Darmstadt.
Another former Hertha player in the current SV 98 squad is Lilies newcomer Marco Richter. The 27-year-old played for the capital club between 2021 and 2023. In 66 appearances – almost 60 of which were in the Bundesliga – he scored 14 goals and provided seven assists.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 15:16 |
| Away | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8:17 |
| Total | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 23:33 |
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
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: