First Darmstadt 98, then Real Madrid. Before Borussia Dortmund meets Los Blancos in the Champions League final (June 1), the 34th Bundesliga matchday is on the agenda. On the occasion of the last game of the season, SV 98 will be away at the Westfalenstadion. The game kicks off at 3:30pm. In our top facts we look at a game of opposites, the home game farewell of a BVB legend and have good and bad memories.
First the good news or the bad news? Ok, let’s start with the negative experience: In the last away game at Borussia Dortmund in the 2016/17 season, SV Darmstadt 98 lost 6-0. Now the good news. The Lilies showed the season before that there is another way. On the 7th matchday of the 2015/16 season, the South Hesse team gained a 2-2 draw against the team of the then BVB coach Thomas Tuchel. Marcel Heller had put the Lilies in the lead, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned the game around in the meantime. But the final word came from Aytac Sulu, who equalised in the 90th minute and at the same time secured the final score.
For the first time in nine years, Borussia Dortmund will finish a Bundesliga season outside the top four in the table. But due to their outstanding performances in the Champions League, the Black and Yellows themselves played a major role in ensuring that fifth place entitles them to take part in the premier class this season. This is exactly the place Borussia will hold at the end of the season – no matter how the game against the Lilies ends. While BVB is still fighting for the silver trophy in the final of the Champions League against Real Madrid on June 1st, SV Darmstadt 98 has to leave the Bundesliga as bottom of the table and go back to the second division after the 34th matchday.
More than a decade in the black and yellow jersey. Born in Dortmund, matured into a club legend in Dortmund. Marco Reus will play for BVB for the last time against SV Darmstadt 98 in front of the backdrop of Signal Iduna Park. The now 34-year-old has donned the Dortmund Borussia jersey in a total of 427 competitive games – behind Michael Zorc (572), Mats Hummels (506) and Roman Weidenfeller (453), Reus is fourth on Dortmund’s all-time record player list. He also scored 169 goals – second place in BVB’s all-time record goalscorer statistics. Particularly striking: Reus is the man for the important goals, with 47 of his 119 Bundesliga goals he scored in 1-0 wins for Borussia Dortmund. You can find out more about Marco Reus in our opponent check.
This is Christoph Zimmermann. The SV Darmstadt 98 central defender was under contract in Dortmund from 2014 to 2017, but only played in the second team at BVB. The 31-year-old played a total of 85 competitive games for Borussia Dortmund II – 27 of them in the 3rd league.
Jannik Müller misses the duel with Borussia Dortmund. The SV 98 defender saw his fifth yellow card of the season in the last home game against TSG Hoffenheim. Müller will therefore be missing next Saturday due to a yellow card.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6:11 |
| Away | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4:16 |
| Total | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10:27 |
SV 98 can announce another new signing ahead of the start of training on Sunday (June 28). Lars Kehl is joining the "Lilies" from VfL Osnabrück on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract.
It was an early start on Thursday morning (June 25th) as SV Darmstadt 98 kicked off their 2026 summer pre-season. The goalkeepers were expected at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor just before 7am, with many other players following shortly thereafter. Yet, despite the early hour, a cheerful Marcel Schuhen jogged from the car park to the team building, flashing a broad grin as he held up an "eight" for the camera. "Today marks the eighth time in a row that I’m starting summer pre-season with the Lilies," smiled the SV 98 captain; under contract at the "Bölle" since 2019, he is the longest-serving player in the current squad.
Reinforcement for the SV 98 defence: The Lilies have signed Yannik Lührs. The 22-year-old defender joins the club at the Böllenfalltor from TSG Hoffenheim II.
The summer break is drawing to a close, and this coming Sunday (June 28th), the Darmstadt professionals will be back on the training pitch for the first time, officially starting their preparations for the 2026/27 second division season. And they'll be doing so in the Odenwald region. Furthermore, the club has welcomed another new signing, Nicolas Verkooijen. You can find these and other topics in our weekly edition, "Lilies Across the Board."
At the "Lionel Richie Tribute Night" on June 27, 2026 (Saturday evening, doors open at 8:30 p.m.), Jimmie Wilson will bring the greatest hits of the American soul singer live to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. This concert evening, presented by SV Darmstadt 98 Stadion GmbH, promises a special atmosphere – whether you want to sing along, dance, or simply enjoy the music. Here you will find all the important organisational information.
SV 98 have secured the services of highly sought-after Nicolas Verkooijen. The Belgian U21 international joins the club in southern Hesse on a free transfer after his contract with Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven expired at the end of the season.
The "Bundesliga Talent Series" will launch in the 2026/27 season as an additional U21 competition to promote young talent in German professional football. SV 98 is one of 26 clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga that have committed to participating.
Tim Arnold will play in the Regionalliga West next season. SV 98 is loaning the 19-year-old to Sportfreunde Siegen. The fourth-division club also has an option to sign him permanently.
Want to take your team to the Heinerfest stage? Then apply now! SV Darmstadt 98 is looking for four teams to be part of the Lilies' Heinerfest game show and compete against former Lilie player Michael Stegmayer. The show takes place on Saturday, July 4th, from 4pm to 6pm. Amateur teams, groups of friends, families, fan clubs, and club groups are all welcome to participate.
With the start of the Hessian summer holidays on June 29th, the Merck Lilies football camps will of course also be in full swing again. You can find all the information here.
SV 98 is making changes to the head coaching positions for its U21 and U19 teams for the upcoming season. Sebastian Schmitt, who has been in charge of the U21s since February, will now coach the U19s. Conversely, the current U19 coach, Patrick Kurt, will take over the position with the U21s.
