In the first leg, SV Darmstadt 98 defeated 1. FC Kaiserslautern 5-1, inflicting the Palatinate club's heaviest defeat of the season so far. However, the Lilies have yet to win an away game at the Betzenberg against the FCK first team in their club history. Next Sunday (May 11th, 1:30pm), the South Hesse team will make another attempt to steal three points from the Fritz-Walter-Stadion. You can find all the facts and figures for the upcoming clash in our "Top Facts."
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.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17:7 |
| Away | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5:9 |
| Overall | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 22:16 |
Darmstadt 98 lost to Hannover 96 while playing with ten men and must continue to wait for their first win of this second division season. Read our analysis to find out what positives remain and why Darmstadt 98 had factored in setbacks on their chosen path.
Around the time of the home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), the Jonathan Heimes Square was officially inaugurated. Before kickoff, club president Markus Pfitzner and Martin Heimes, father of Jonathan Heimes, who died of cancer about ten years ago, gave speeches highlighting "Johnny's" importance and his commitment to people with cancer.
The Lilien Team Marathon is not just about athletic performance and the shared experience around the Böllenfalltor stadium – but also about making a difference together.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team drew 2-2 (0-1) against SV Unter-Flockenbach. After a heated home game, the young Lilies had to settle for a frustrating, but ultimately deserved, draw. In this extremely balanced league, Patrick Kurt's team continues to grow week by week, gaining valuable experience.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
