Although a winning streak has come to an end in Dresden, the current home winning streak needs to be continued against Kiel. Tim Walter, the familiar yet new face on the Kiel coaching bench, is bringing a breath of fresh air to the North German side. All the facts and figures about the match between SV Darmstadt 98 and Holstein Kiel are compiled here for you. Here you'll find the key facts for Saturday's game.
The Bölle stadium has been an impregnable fortress this season. League rivals have visited Darmstadt twelve times, but no one has managed to steal more than a point. A look at their last six home games alone demonstrates the confidence the Lilies possess at home: six games, six wins. The number six is also significant against Holstein Kiel. Three draws and three wins is the record from the previous six encounters. Both of their last defeats date back to 2021.
And speaking of six: Kiel haven’t managed to secure three points in any of their last six matches. They’ve only managed two points during this period.
However, Tim Walter is now in charge and was already on the sidelines against SV Elversberg at the weekend. The „Walter-style ball,“ characterised by high possession, positional changes, and bold attacking play, is expected to be seen again in northern Germany. Against Elversberg, he demonstrated his intentions with 53 percent possession.
Before his stints at HSV and VfB Stuttgart, Walter’s first professional coaching position was with Holstein Kiel – in the 2018/19 season. His return as head coach resulted in a point against the top team from Elversberg.
Holstein Kiel may be in fifteenth place in the table, but they put in a tremendous effort. They throw themselves into tackles and are always willing to go the extra mile. With 224 tackles, the Storks currently have the second-most duels in the league. And only two teams cover more distance per game than the Storks, averaging 122.4 kilometres. Furthermore, KSV Holstein Kiel demonstrates a willingness to launch into sprints. They average 165 sprints per game, placing them third in the league, and complete 721 high-intensity runs per match – also ranking them third.
Given the immense effort Kiel puts in, what has been holding them back recently? The North German side has created 41 clear-cut chances throughout the season – only two teams in the 2. Bundesliga have managed more. However, Holstein Kiel squandered 28 of them. A telling example: their top scorer is a center-back: David Zec, who has five goals so far.
Kiel also boasts an expected goals (xG) of 34.1, yet they have only found the net 29 times. In contrast, SV Hannover 96 has 41.27 xG, but the players around Swedish striker Isac Lidberg have already found the back of the net 45 times.
But: Alexander Bernhardsson is back. After his injury, he made his comeback last weekend. He has two goals and six assists, making him the Storks‘ top scorer.
The South Hessians are particularly comfortable with set pieces. Only Paderborn (16) have celebrated more goals from set pieces than the 98ers (15). But one team’s joy is another’s sorrow in Saturday’s match. Kiel aren’t happy with this statistic, as no team has conceded more goals from set pieces than the Storks (16).
Florian Kohfeldt’s team is often very solid defensively and has a reliable presence in goal with Marcel Schuhen. The Darmstadt captain has conceded 28 goals this season; only four teams have let in fewer. Kiel, however, isn’t as vulnerable defensively as their current league position might suggest. They’ve conceded 35 goals, placing them in an average eleventh position.
Interestingly, both teams have allowed almost the same number of shots on goal so far. Darmstadt’s goalkeeper has faced 347 shots, while opposing teams have fired the ball at Kiel’s goal 348 times.
Five players are in danger of receiving their fifth yellow card in this match. For Darmstadt, Fraser Hornby and Luca Marseiler are both on the brink of receiving their fourth yellow card. For Holstein Kiel, Adrian Krapalik, Stefan Schwab, and David Zec need to be careful.
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
|
Home |
7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11:10 |
|
Away |
9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 14:10 |
|
Overall |
16 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 25:20 |
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: