Seven points from three matches and still undefeated: SV Darmstadt 98 are in good form at the start of the league season. The last time the Lilies experienced such a high-scoring start was in the 2017/18 season. Back then, under coach Torsten Frings, they even managed three wins and a draw from their first four matches. Whether the Lilies can repeat that haul at the start of the 2025/26 season will be decided next Sunday (August 31st, 1:30pm), when Darmstadt 98 travels to 1. FC Kaiserslautern. You can read about other interesting statistics from Matchday 4 of the 2nd Bundesliga in our Top Facts section.
The Betzenberg is considered 1. FC Kaiserslautern’s life insurance for a reason: The Palatinate club has earned 17 of its last 18 points at home across all seasons – including all three points this season. With a total of 23 home points in the 2025 calendar year, FCK also shares the league record with Karlsruher SC. For the Lilies, however, the Betzenberg has been a difficult place to be: in six attempts, they have yet to manage an away win in Kaiserslautern. Florian Kohfeldt’s team will do everything they can to finally break this streak on Sunday.
1. FC Kaiserslautern has struggled to score open play so far. Their only two goals have come from the penalty spot. All other second-division teams have scored at least once from open play.
Even after their home game against Hertha, SV Darmstadt 98 remained undefeated – like only Hannover 96 and Karlsruher SC have done this season. The last time the Lilies had such a good start was eight years ago under coach Torsten Frings. Back then, the Darmstadt team recorded two wins and a draw in the first three matchdays, as well as a 2-1 away victory at MSV Duisburg on the fourth matchday. Should this result be repeated next Sunday (August 31st) in Kaiserslautern, no Lilies fan would be likely to object…
After three matchdays, SV Darmstadt 98 boasts two league leaders: Isac Lidberg leads the scoring chart thanks to his hat trick against VfL Bochum. But a striker only shines when he also provides assists – and that’s where Fraser Hornby comes in. With two assists, he’s currently one of the league’s top providers, along with Laurin Curda and Rico Preißinger. Luca Marseiler will also be particularly motivated going into Sunday’s clash: He scored two of his three goals in the 2. Bundesliga against 1. FC Kaiserslautern – last season, he even scored in both games against the Red Devils.
The clash with 1. FC Kaiserslautern offers several special reunions for the Lilies. Two Red Devils have a history with SV Darmstadt 98. Perhaps the most prominent connection is Torsten Lieberknecht: The current FCK coach led the Lilies to the Bundesliga in the 2022/23 season, playing a key role in an unforgettable promotion. After 112 games as head coach, his tenure ended almost exactly a year ago. Frank Ronstadt will also face many familiar faces on Sunday. The 27-year-old defender made 44 competitive appearances for SV 98 – in the 2. Bundesliga, the Bundesliga, and the DFB-Pokal – before joining Kaiserslautern in January 2024.
Darmstadt also has a connection to their upcoming opponent: Paul Will remembers 1. FC Kaiserslautern from his youth days. Between 2015 and 2018, the native of Central Hesse wore the Red Devils‘ jersey and scored twelve goals and provided eight assists in 73 matches for the U17 and U19 teams. He then moved to FC Bayern Munich’s reserve team.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17:7 |
| Away | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6:11 |
| Overall | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 23:18 |
After 13 unbeaten second-division matches, SV Darmstadt 98 suffered their first defeat this Friday evening. Three unfortunate minutes just before halftime, during which Patric Pfeiffer was sent off and Vincent Vermeij scored twice, paved the way for Dresden's victory. After the match, the focus was primarily on the differing assessments of two very similar incidents by the refereeing team – incidents which both coaches subsequently evaluated identically.
For the first time since October, Darmstadt 98 finished a league match without any points: SV 98 lost 3-1 (2-0) to SG Dynamo Dresden. After a controversial red card against Patric Pfeiffer (42nd minute), the home side scored two goals in first-half stoppage time to secure the victory.
Under the floodlights at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadium. On Friday evening (February 27th/6:30pm), Darmstadt 98 will play away against Dynamo Dresden. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting eleven. Raoul Petretta makes his first start, replacing Fabian Holland. Luca Marseiler starts in place of the suspended Marco Richter, and Hiroki Akiyama replaces Fraser Hornby, who is sidelined with a thigh injury. Fabian Nürnberger, Matthias Bader, and Bartosz Bialek remain unavailable due to injury.
A floodlit match at the Rudolf-Haribig-Stadion is always something special. Darmstadt 98 are aiming to take three points back to southern Hesse this Friday evening (February 27th). Kick-off is at 6:30pm. All the important information about the 24th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga is clearly summarised for you in our "Matchday Guide".
Darmstadt 98 aim to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games in Friday evening's match against Dynamo Dresden. While Darmstadt's potent attack has resulted in a respectable goal tally, they are wary at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. The Saxons have been on an upward trend since the winter break and will have a vociferous home crowd behind them. We've compiled all the facts and figures surrounding this clash in this report. Here you'll find the key facts for tomorrow's match.
Darmstadt and Dresden are 598 kilometres apart. On Friday evening (February 27th, 6:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will travel to the Saxon capital for the 24th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga. The next away game will take place under the floodlights at the historic Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. You can find all relevant fan information here.
Before SV Darmstadt 98 plays under floodlights in Dresden on Friday evening (27.02/18.30), Florian Kohfeldt spoke at the press conference about the strengths of Dynamo Dresden and the special atmosphere in the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion.
Raoul Petretta joined SV Darmstadt 98 in the winter and already feels very much at home. He talks about his arrival and his goals. Besides their sporting focus, the Lilies are also committed to sustainability: On March 15, 2026, over 3,500 trees will be planted as part of the fifth "In the Sign of the Lily" tree-planting campaign. In our "Lilies Across the Board" section, we provide you with the most important news from SV Darmstadt 98 every week.
Numerous Dynamo Dresden fans flock to the stadium on home match days. But one day, they came for a single reason: What should their stadium be called in the future? Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in front of the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, ready to cast their votes. In cooperation with regional partners, Dynamo Dresden's management took the unusual step of letting the club's supporters decide for themselves.
WirLilien – Together for nature conservation! Together with our partner Krombacher, we will once again plant more than 3,500 trees on Sunday (March 15th) – under the banner of the Lily. You can still register for the event at short notice.
On Friday (February 27th, 7:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team begins the second phase of their Hessenliga season. With 23 points after 20 matchdays, the Lilies are currently in 14th place. Following intensive weeks of winter training, the team aims to start the upcoming challenges with renewed energy and secure crucial points.
A fast-paced, thrilling exchange between SV Darmstadt 98 and Fortuna Düsseldorf reached its ecstatic climax in the 88th minute. Thanks to Matej Maglica's header, Darmstadt secured a 2-1 victory in a wild battle that resembled a 12-round boxing match, with both sides neglecting their defences and constantly searching for the next hook or punch. A day later, sv98.de looks back on what was probably the most exciting home game of the season so far for the South Hessian side.