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 |
Attention Lilien fans: During SV Darmstadt 98’s training camp in Bad Wörishofen (Allgäu region)—taking place from July 19th to July 26th, 2026—there will once again be an opportunity to meet the team, chat with the players, and, of course, get autographs and photos. The fan meet-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, following the friendly match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Kick-off for the match is at 12pm.
SV 98 remains active in the transfer market. The "Lilies" have signed Christopher Lannert from Arminia Bielefeld.
Friendly matches, fundraising campaigns, and plenty of photos—that’s what the week looked like for SV 98 and the club’s community. Between their 5–1 victory over FC Homburg and the upcoming friendly in Walldorf this Friday (July 17), the „Lilies“ showed their best side for the cameras. In addition, the SV 98 legends team will face an Odenwald select squad on Sunday (July 19th). You can also win great prizes in competitions taking place in Erbach and at the pop-up store in downtown Darmstadt. Lilies Across the Board brings you all the latest news from life at SV 98.
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.