It was just over eleven years ago that SV Darmstadt 98 experienced a special football afternoon in Münster on April 5, 2014: The Lilies secured a crucial 2-0 away win, thus collecting three vital points in the battle for promotion to the second division. One scene in particular stands out in the memory, one that Lilies fans can't get enough of: Sandro Sirigu snatched the ball deep in their own half, danced his way across almost the entire pitch in an impressive solo run, and crowned this run in the 83rd minute with a fine lob over the Münster keeper – making it 2-0 and deciding the game. On Saturday afternoon (April 26, 1pm), the Lilies will travel to Münster again for Matchday 31 of the 2. Bundesliga. And we've summarised the top facts about the game for you.
SV Darmstadt 98 enters their next match with a lot of confidence and a great chance: Darmstadt has picked up seven points from their last three matches. If Darmstadt manages to remain unbeaten in their fourth consecutive game, they will definitely stay in the league. However, the Lilies will certainly not be playing for a draw. „Our goal this season is to achieve at least 40 points,“ said Andreas Müller in a media briefing. And to do that, they definitely need two more points.
The Münster Eagles are the kings of the skies, having won by far the most header duels this season. This helps not only defensively, but also offensively: The Münster team has scored a third of their goals with their heads – ten in total. Only Paderborn, Schalke, and Hamburg have scored more often with their heads. This will show which team will have the upper hand in the air next Saturday, as SV 98 has only conceded one header goal this season.
In addition to their aerial prowess, Preußen Münster has excelled in another defensive discipline this season: With only 40 goals conceded, the Eagles boast the sixth-best defense in the 2. Bundesliga. However, Darmstadt will present a real test for Münster’s defensive bulwarks: The Lilies have found the back of the net 51 times this season. Only three teams have scored more goals – Hamburg (65), Magdeburg (58), and Elversberg (55).
Just 30 seconds into the last home game against Hannover, the ball found its first net thanks to Fraser Hornby – after a wonderful assist from Killian Corredor. The Lilies are hoping for a similar early start against Preußen Münster: In their last four matches, the Prussians have conceded a goal within the first 15 minutes. And in all four matches, the Eagles were unable to recover from an early deficit and ended up winless.
It should already be known that Darmstadt are very strong on the counterattack this season. Only HSV (9) has scored more counterattack goals than the Lilies (7). However, Münster is very careful with the ball. Only four times has a turnover resulted in a goal for the opponent – a league-best. Here, the Lilies must switch quickly and make good use of their counterattacking strength.
Only Münster’s reserve goalkeeper Morten Behrens once donned the blue and white jersey of the Lilies. From 2021 to 2024, Behrens played in Darmstadt, with a loan spell at Waldhof Mannheim in the 2022/23 season. Behrens made a total of four appearances for the Lilies in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Aleksandar Vukotic (9), Matej Maglica (4), Fabian Nürnberger (4), Fraser Hornby (4), and Killian Corredor (4) have yellow cards. A further yellow card for any of these players would result in a suspension. Merveille Papela is absent due to a yellow card suspension.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11:5 |
| Away | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4:6 |
| Total | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 15:11 |
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.
