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 |
As Florian Kohfeldt approached the team's dressing room at halftime, the Darmstadt head coach heard exactly one sentence: "It's not finished." Fraser Hornby had uttered it, setting the tone for his teammates and himself. What followed was a remarkable second half from Darmstadt 98 and a point against SV Elversberg, a point that, while likely insufficient for their promotion hopes in southern Hesse, nonetheless filled the Darmstadt fans with pride.
For every home goal scored by the Lilies, SV Darmstadt 98 fans will be doubly rewarded in the 2025/26 season. In addition to the joy and excitement, the Lilies' supporters will also receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.
They fought to the very end, playing with ten men, and tried everything. But in the end, Darmstadt had to settle for a 3-3 draw against SV Elversberg in the sold-out Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. How do the Darmstadt players and staff assess the passionate 90 minutes at the Bölle? What did both head coaches have to say about the match? We've compiled all the reactions for you.
No winner in the clash of the pursuers: Darmstadt 98's home game against SV Elversberg ended in a 3-3 (2-3) draw. After three consecutive defeats, SV 98 managed to secure at least a point and now has 51 points this season. Pfeiffer (14th minute) and Hornby (15th and 51st minutes) scored for the team from southern Hesse.
It's home game day at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. On Saturday evening, the 31st matchday of the 2. Bundesliga, SV Darmstadt 98 hosts SV Elversberg. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting eleven compared to last week. Raoul Petretta replaces Fabian Nürnberger (thigh injury). Yosuke Furukawa also starts in place of Killian Corredor against the team from Saarland.
A new match under the floodlights awaits! On Saturday evening (April 25th, 8:30pm), Darmstadt 98 play against SV Elversberg. What are the coaches' opinions before the game? Who will referee, broadcast, and commentate the match? And what kind of weather can Darmstadt fans expect at the stadium? All the information is compiled for you in "Matchday Guide."
What are Florian Kohfeldt's thoughts on Saturday evening's match (April 25th/8:30pm) against SV Elversberg? Where does he see the strengths of their upcoming opponent? And how does his team plan to get back on track after three consecutive defeats? The Darmstadt head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Friday (April 24th) in the catacombs of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. We've summarised Kohfeldt's key statements from the press conference for you.
On Saturday evening (April 26th/8:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will host the team from SV 07 Elversberg and asks you to take note of the following information.
In the world of football, a yo-yo team is a team that oscillates between two leagues – too good for one league, but not quite at the level of the next higher one. The result is usually many promotions and many relegations. But SV Elversberg is currently redefining the term. For several years now, the yo-yo has been taking SVE almost exclusively upwards.
Saturday evening at the Böllenfalltor, the seventh edition! This time, SV Darmstadt 98 hosts SV Elversberg at the Merck Stadium. Both teams are strong offensively and convincing defensively. But where do the differences lie? And in which statistics do both the team from southern Hesse and the Saarlanders lead the pack? We've compiled all the facts and figures for this match right here for you.
The news that Fabian Holland will no longer play for Darmstadt at the end of this season affected everyone at the club. We take a look at it. Also exciting this week: The U17s host Eintracht Frankfurt's youth team in Pfungstadt today, Wednesday (April 22nd/5pm) for the Hessian derby in the Hesse Cup; the Darmstadt first team will wear members' jerseys against SV Elversberg next Saturday (April 25th/8:30pm); and the Darmstadt VIP box has been temporarily converted into a yoga camp. "Darmstadt Across the Board" on Wednesday is available here.
The end of an era. Fabian Holland's twelfth season in the Lilies' jersey will be his last with SV 98. The 35-year-old's contract, which expires at the end of the season, will not be renewed. The club informed Holland of this decision in a confidential meeting. Both club and player agree to focus entirely on achieving the best possible end to the season until the final match and that any plans for a farewell celebration will depend on how the rest of the season unfolds.