Transfer News: Hornby moves to Wolfsburg
Fraser Hornby's time at Darmstadt 98 comes to an end after three years. The Scottish attacking midfielder is moving to VfL Wolfsburg. Both clubs have agreed to keep the transfer fee confidential.
31.03.2024 / English
Figures & facts: The top facts about the Bochum game
On Easter Sunday (31.03/7.30pm) SVD has an important duel with VfL Bochum on the agenda. The Lilies need every point in the fight to stay in the league. But before SV 98 starts the crucial weeks of this season in Bochum, you will find all the important facts about the game here. What gives hope? What does Torsten Lieberknecht’s team have to prepare for? And which lily has been a top scorer at VfL? You can find out in our top facts about the game.
Crucial weeks start in Bochum
Despite the long winless streak, the hope of staying in the league remains alive. The numbers also support this hope. We are “only” six points behind the relegation place. With the Bochum team there is now a competitor in the relegation battle. Thomas Letsch’s team has only lost three times at home, but two of these defeats resulted from their most recent home appearances (1:4 against Leipzig, 1:2 against Freiburg). In general, VfL is in a downward trend. They only won one of the last eight league games. The last four matches were all lost with a goal difference of 4:13.
Positive balance
A look at the history of this encounter is also encouraging. Because the Lilies have a positive record against VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga. There are three wins and only two defeats with a goal difference of 8:5 goals. Darmstadt has not won more times against any other club in the Bundesliga than against Bochum. However, the three Bundesliga wins against VfL go back several decades and date back to 1978, 1979 and 1981.
Duel monster
The Bochum team are true duel monsters and demonstrate their fighting spirit week after week. VfL contests the most duels per game (217). 2781 duels won over the season and 742 aerial duels won are also league leaders. Defensive player Bernardo has the most duels in the league (385). In addition to him, Keven Schlotterbeck and Ivan Ordets also have a tackle rate of more than 60 percent. The Lilies have to prepare for a combative and intense game (more on this in the opponent check).
Danger from a distance
With 30 goals, the Bochum offensive is one of the harmless teams in the Bundesliga. But be careful! SV 98 should not underestimate VfL’s attack. The current fifteenth place in the table is particularly dangerous from a distance. Thomas Letsch’s team has already recorded 151 shots from outside the box this season. Only leaders Leverkusen have more in this statistic with 167 shots.
Pre-loaded
With Jannik Müller, Christoph Zimmermann, Fabian Holland and Klaus Gjasula, four Lilien players are already under pressure for the game at VfL Bochum. A fifth yellow card would result in a game ban. This is exactly the fate that befell Bartol Franjic on the last matchday against Bayern Munich. The Croatian now has to miss out in Bochum and can only take part again on the first weekend in April in Mainz (06.04/3.30pm).
Encounter with the old club
The encounter with the old club is on the agenda for two Lilies on Easter Sunday. In the 2021/22 season, Sebastian Polter played for the team from Castroper Straße. He netted ten times in 33 games and became VfL’s top goalscorer that season. The striker thus played a significant role in helping the then promoted team stay in the league. Winger Gerrit Holtmann is currently on loan from VfL Bochum to Darmstadt. The 29-year-old laced up his football boots in the Ruhr area from 2020 to 2023 and played a total of 92 games for Bochum in the first and second leagues. He set up 15 goals and scored eleven times himself. There is also an encounter with the old club on the opposing side. Bochum’s assistant coach Frank Heinemann assisted the then Lilien head coach Norbert Meier at the beginning of the 2016/17 season.
The Record
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12:6 |
| Away | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7:10 |
| Total | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 19:16 |
Impressive run: U21 finishes season with a 5-3 victory
An eight-goal thriller to close out the season. The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team took to the pitch one last time this season on Saturday (May 30th) – away against FC Eddersheim. The young Lilies secured a 5-3 victory in Eddersheim, finishing the 2025/26 Hessenliga season in eleventh place. Even more remarkable, however, was the U21's run at the end of the season: the Blue and Whites won their last five matches, scoring an impressive 22 goals in the process.
“That makes me very happy and proud.”
Barcelona, Spain. A global city right on the Mediterranean. Over 1.7 million people live here. And one of them is Clemens Riedel. The 22-year-old former Darmstadt player moved from SV 98 to Espanyol Barcelona last summer – from youth academy to professional in the Spanish first division. We spoke with Riedel about his first year in Barcelona, the past season, and his still close ties to Darmstadt.
Contract Extended: Nürnberger stays in Darmstadt
SV 98 can continue to rely on the services of Fabian Nürnberger. The Lilies have extended the expiring contract with the Bulgarian international.
Transfer News: Purchase Option Activated, Dettoni remains at the Lilies.
Grayson Dettoni will continue to wear the SV 98 jersey. The Lilies have exercised their option to buy the defender, who was previously on loan from FC Bayern Munich.
Football ID Championship in Darmstadt | Members‘ Network Meeting
The German Football Championship for People with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) kicks off on Sunday – and it's taking place in Darmstadt's Bürgerpark! Last week, the Darmstadt 98ers' home ground offered a different kind of sporting event: a karate demonstration. We also take a look at the opponents for the new season and celebrate two birthdays this week. You'll find all this and much more about Darmstadt 98 in our usual "Lilies Across the Board".
5-1 in the last home game: U21 secures survival in the league
„I’m proud of you,“ were the words of U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt to the team after they secured their place in the Hessenliga. On Saturday (May 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team had the chance to stay in the league against Turabdin Babylon Pohlheim – and they seized it impressively! The young Lilies delivered a convincing 5-1 goal fest, but at the same time still needed help from other teams to guarantee their survival. However, because their direct rivals, CSC 03 Kassel, narrowly lost in Stadtallendorf, the U21 team was finally able to celebrate.
Volunteer Award 2026: Haftpflichtkasse and SV 98 honour clubs
For the fourth time, the Haftpflichtkasse insurance company and SV Darmstadt 98 have jointly awarded four clubs with the Volunteer Award. The award ceremony, including the presentation of the checks, took place last Sunday (May 17th) before the home game against SC Paderborn at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The Volunteer Award, established in 2023 by the Haftpflichtkasse and SV Darmstadt 98, aims to strengthen volunteer engagement and promote outstanding projects.
Dates for the Darmstadt Running Club 2026
Whether jogging, walking or Nordic walking: everyone is welcome at the Darmstadt running club. Since 1974, the initiative has been getting people moving and offers suitable options for both beginners and advanced runners.
Professional contracts for Herbst and Merx
SV 98 have signed Milian Herbst and Manolo Merx to professional contracts. The two young players will therefore be part of the Lilies' professional squad next season.
Will and Co.: How the second half of the season went for the Lilies‘ loaned players
Between staying in the league, fighting relegation, and the end of the season, the second half of the season was a busy one for SV Darmstadt 98's loaned players. While Paul Will is still battling to avoid relegation with SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Leon Klassen (Grazer AK), Meldin Dreskovic (Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC), Fabio Torsiello (Alemannia Aachen), and Othmane El Idrissi (Viktoria Aschaffenburg) have already finished their seasons. We take a look at the past few weeks for the Lilies' loaned players.
Long break for Papela
Merveille Papela suffered a meniscus injury during Darmstadt 98's away match in Karlsruhe (May 3rd). This was confirmed by examinations over the past few weeks. The 25-year-old has already undergone successful surgery. Papela will therefore be unavailable to SV Darmstadt 98 for the next few months.