What a spectacular Friday evening it was at home at the Bölle last October! With a 5-1 home win against 1. FC Köln, the Lilies secured their first win in front of a home crowd in the first half of the season. Now the return match in Köln is coming up (March 15, 8:30pm), and we're naturally hoping for a similarly energetic performance. Here's a summary of the most important "figures and facts" about the match before Saturday evening's game at the RheinEnergieStadion.
SV Darmstadt 98’s 5-1 victory in the first leg was the Lilien’s third win in their last four matches against 1. FC Köln. Particularly noteworthy: The South Hesse team has won their last two meetings at the RheinEnergieStadion. In the 2018/19 season, the Böllenfalltor team celebrated early relegation there with a 2-1 victory. Last season, meanwhile, Darmstadt won 2-0 in the Rhineland. This away streak can certainly continue!
Köln definitely has a favourite result this season—1-0 wins. Eight of their last ten victories have come courtesy of a 1-0 victory. While the Rhinelanders‘ offense hasn’t quite found its stride this year, three points are still earned for narrow victories… In the second half of the season, Köln scored just six goals in eight matches. Only bottom-placed Regensburg (5) scored fewer goals during that period.
It’s worth paying closer attention to the Billy Goats‘ corners next time they play: 1. FC Köln has scored the second-most corner goals (6) this season in the second division, behind Hamburger SV (7). But can they defend corners? The Lilies are a force to be reckoned with. Having conceded only two goals from corners, Darmstadt boasts the third-best corner defence in the 2. Bundesliga.
The Swedish attacker is a key player for the Lilies: In 19 games, the SVD, with striker Isac Lidberg, earned 30 points and scored a total of 40 goals. With twelve goals and four assists, his value to the team is also reflected in the player statistics.
The only former Lily currently under contract with 1. FC Köln is Denis Huseinbasic. The midfielder played for the Darmstadt youth team before making his breakthrough at 1. FC Köln via Eintracht Frankfurt and Kickers Offenbach. He has made 26 appearances this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
Four players from the Darmstadt ranks will be making a „homecoming“ appearance: Lilien goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen played for numerous FC youth teams for eight years, but never made a senior appearance. Full-back Matthias Bader, in turn, was selected for the Köln first team. In addition to six matches for the first team, he also made five appearances for the reserves. Assistant coach Martin Heck also returns to his former stomping grounds. From 2007 to 2022, he was head of the football academy, coached two youth teams, and, for a time, also coached the Billy Goats‘ reserve team. Goalkeeping coach Alexander Kynaß also has a Köln background. The 36-year-old worked with the Effzeh youth team from 2017 to 2021.
Fabian Nürnberger remains suspended for the Lilies‘ game against 1. FC Köln. Aleksandar Vukotic (9), Matej Maglica (4), and Fraser Hornby (4) have yellow card suspensions hanging over them.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8:16 |
| Away | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9:19 |
| Overall | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 17:35 |
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.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.