SV Darmstadt 98 plays in the Regionalliga, Lukas Podolski and his team storm to third place at the World Cup in South Africa, and Lena Meyer-Landrut wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Germany with her song "Satelite": All of this happened a full 15 years ago – the same time as the Lilies' last away game in Ulm. On Friday evening (March 28th, 6:30pm), the Darmstadt team will travel back to the "Ländle" to face the Ulmer Spatzen, and we've summarised the top facts about the game for you.
Aleksandar Vukotic stands a full two metres and one centimeter tall. And the 29-year-old SV 98 central defender knows how to use his height to his advantage. The Serb has won 119 aerial duels this season – more than any other player in the 2. Bundesliga. Vukotic also likes to use his aerial prowess in attack: With three goals this season, he is one of the league’s most dangerous central defenders – only Boris Tomiak (4) has found the net more often.
To score goals, you first have to try. And Darmstadt is doing so in spades: With 384 shots on goal, only 1. FC Köln (421) has more shots on goal. Quantity also equals quality: With 45 goals scored, Darmstadt ranks fifth in the 2. Bundesliga in this category. Compared to an xGoal value of 42.3, Darmstadt’s offence also proves to be quite efficient.
Set-pieces, in particular, are extremely important for the Ulmer Spatzen. They scored over a third of their goals from set pieces. The Lilies should be warned, but they needn’t panic: With seven goals conceded, SV 98 is the third-best team in the 2. Bundesliga when it comes to goals conceded from set pieces. But Ulm’s defence is also considered a shining example: With 32 goals conceded, only two 2. Bundesliga teams have conceded fewer goals than Ulm – Hanover (26) and Köln (31).
Ulm’s most dangerous offensive player is undoubtedly Semir Telalovic: The 25-year-old striker came to the Donaustadion last season from Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship. For the Ehingen native, the move marked a return to his hometown. With his nine goals so far this season, he has contributed more than twice as many as Ulm’s second-best goalscorer, Felix Higl. Telalovic should be more in contention than ever to score against the Lilies. Since scoring four times against SSV Jahn Regensburg on January 26, the striker hasn’t scored again – and Ulmer Spatzen haven’t won since.
The following statistic demonstrates that many of Ulm’s games are quite close: Ulm has collected eleven draws this season – more than any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. And the games the Danube Swabians have lost have almost always been close: a total of nine of their twelve defeats have ended by just one goal.
Anyone hoping to take something tangible from SSV Ulm will have to prepare for a tough, high-stakes battle: Only two teams in the 2. Bundesliga have contested more duels than the Spatzen. On average, the Danube Swabians engage their opponents in 221 duels per game and win an above-average number of them: 2,832 duels won puts them in third place in the 2. Bundesliga in this category.
Aleksandar Vukotic (9), Matej Maglica (4), Philipp Förster (4), and Fabian Nürnberger (4) have all received yellow cards. Another yellow card for any of these players would result in a suspension. Fraser Hornby will miss the game against Ulm due to his sending off in his last game against 1. FC Köln.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 26:22 |
| Away | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 11:24 |
| Overall | 29 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 37:46 |
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.