Facts & Figures: The top facts about the Lautern game

The coaching duel between Florian Kohfeldt and Torsten Lieberknecht is a first – the two coaches have never met directly before. However, they are not strangers to each other. When Kohfeldt took over as coach of SV Darmstadt 98 in the fall of 2024, he had words of praise for his predecessor: „I’m taking over a team from a top colleague whom I’ve known for a long time and who left me a very nice message.“

Julian Krahl, goalkeeper for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, is having an outstanding season – and he impressively demonstrated this again on the final matchday. With seven saves, the 25-year-old played a key role in the point against Karlsruher SC and was once again a reliable pillar of support for his team. Overall, Krahl has saved 119 shots this second division season – only Düsseldorf’s Florian Kastenmeier has made more saves with 127. His save rate is also impressive: Krahl has saved 72 percent of all shots on goal.

The Fritz-Walter-Stadion, also known as the Betzenberg, hasn’t been a particularly rewarding trip for SV Darmstadt 98 so far. An away win in Kaiserslautern? That’s never happened. In the three previous second-division matches at the Betzenberg, the two teams have drawn each time, while FCK has beaten the Lilies twice in the Bundesliga. But there is also reason for hope: Kaiserslautern has won only one of the last seven matches against Darmstadt – so the recent past favours the Lilies. And as the saying goes, there’s always a first time.

The whole truth is that SV Darmstadt 98 isn’t the only one struggling at the Betzenberg—many teams are struggling there. This season, the Fritz-Walter-Stadion has been a veritable fortress. 1. FC Kaiserslautern has earned 29 of its 50 points so far at home—no other second-division team has more home wins (eight) this season. This is also reflected in the home table: The Red Devils are in second place, just behind Hannover 96.

Quick counterattack play has been one of the strengths of both teams this season: Kaiserslautern and SV Darmstadt 98 have each scored seven goals on the counterattack – only Hamburger SV, with ten goals, have scored more often after a quick counterattack. Individual players also pose a threat: Ragnar Ache for FCK, and Isac Lidberg and Fraser Hornby for the Lilies have each scored two goals on the counterattack – no other player in the league has scored more goals after a counterattack.

The clash with 1. FC Kaiserslautern will feature several reunions for the Lilies. Three Red Devils players have a history with SV Darmstadt 98. The most prominent connection: Torsten Lieberknecht. The current FCK coach led the Lilies to the Bundesliga in the 2022/23 season and was part of an unforgettable rise. In the fall of 2024, his tenure in Darmstadt ended after 112 games as head coach. Frank Ronstadt will also meet up with many former teammates this weekend. The 27-year-old defender made 44 competitive appearances for SV 98 – in the 2. Bundesliga, Bundesliga, and the DFB-Pokal – before moving to Kaiserslautern in January 2024. And not to be forgotten: goalkeeping coach Andreas Clauß. Between 1999 and 2003, he made 125 appearances for the Lilies in the Regionalliga and wore the Darmstadt jersey for four years.

A Lilien pro knows 1. FC Kaiserslautern firsthand: Paul Will wore the Red Devils‘ jersey in the youth team from 2015 to 2018. In a total of 73 appearances for the U17 and U19 teams, the Central Hesse native scored twelve goals and provided eight assists before joining FC Bayern Munich’s reserve team. However, a direct reunion with his former club remains a mystery – Will is still out injured.

Killian Corredor (4), Fraser Hornby (4), Kai Klefisch (4), Sergio Lopez (4), Matej Maglica (4), and Fabian Nürnberger (4) have yellow cards. A further yellow card for any of these players would result in a suspension. Aleksander Vukotic (10) and Andreas Müller (5) are both suspended.