Will the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor remain a fortress against Fortuna Düsseldorf? Will Darmstadt's unbeaten run continue? And can the Rhinelanders once again rely on their solid defence? Ahead of the clash between the two teams next Saturday at noon (February 21st/1pm), we take a look at the most important facts and figures about the match.
There’s no place like home, is there?! SV Darmstadt 98 has collected 27 of its 42 points at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor – placing it top of the 2. Bundesliga home table. Furthermore, the Lilies are the only team in the competition that has yet to lose at home. Across seasons, SVD is unbeaten in twelve home matches. Remarkably, the Lilies have won all of their last five encounters at the Bölle, and their last three home victories were achieved without conceding a single goal. Keep it up, Darmstadt!
Bielefeld, Hannover, Fürth, Elversberg, Karlsruhe, Münster, Paderborn, Bochum, Nürnberg, Hertha, Kaiserslautern, and Braunschweig: a total of twelve teams from the 2. Bundesliga. Yet none of these teams managed to inflict a defeat on SV Darmstadt 98 in the last twelve matchdays. The Lilies are unbeaten in exactly twelve games – six wins, six draws.
A 1-0 win against Arminia Bielefeld. A 2-1 defeat at Hannover 96. A 2-1 win against SC Paderborn. A 1-1 draw at Karlsruher SC. And a 0-0 draw against Preußen Münster. Fortuna Düsseldorf has started the 2026 football year with two wins, two draws, and one loss. Furthermore, Fortuna is unbeaten in three games – the longest such run the Rhinelanders have ever had this season. Particularly noteworthy in the second half of the season is the enormous stabilisation of Fortuna Düsseldorf’s defense. Conceding only four goals in 2026 is the best record in the entire league.
Darmstadt 98 have already shared the points in nine matches – more than any other team in the league. This means they have accumulated as many draws at this stage as they will in the entire 2024/25 season. However, these numerous draws also mean that Darmstadt rarely lose. They have only been defeated twice this season – all other second-division teams have lost at least five times.
With 42 goals this season, SV Darmstadt 98 boasts the best attack in the competition, scoring more than twice as many as Fortuna Düsseldorf (20). And Darmstadt could have scored even more. They hit the woodwork a total of 15 times – the most in the league.
Markus Anfang was the head coach of SV 98 in the 2020/21 season, finishing the campaign in seventh place with 51 points. Assistant coach Florian Junge also worked with him at the Böllenfalltor stadium and will later join Anfang’s team in Düsseldorf.
Semih Güler once wore the Fortuna Düsseldorf jersey as a youth player. The striker played for the Rhineland club’s U17 and U19 teams from 2013 to 2015.
Sergio Lopez and Marco Richter are approaching an anniversary: Both Lilies will celebrate their 50th second division game in an appearance against Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Marco Richter and Fraser Hornby are both still on four yellow cards. Another booking would therefore result in a suspension.
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
|
Home |
11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 11:21 |
| Away | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14:22 |
|
Overall |
23 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 25:43 |
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.
SV Darmstadt 98 successfully completed their second pre-season friendly, defeating Verbandsliga side VfR Fehlheim 8-0 (4-0).
