The Lilies welcome SV Elversberg. Both teams were still unable to win after the winter break. On Saturday (February 8th/1pm) the teams will have their next chance to score three points for the first time in 2025 in the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor. Other interesting numbers & We have facts about SV 98's second home game of the second half of the season for you in the „Top Facts“ compiled.
In the last twelve games before Christmas, SV Darmstadt 98 hit the opposing goal 33 times and had the second best offense of the first half of the season. In the second half of the season, the Lilies have only scored two goals so far, both against Fortuna Düsseldorf. No team in the second division scored less frequently in 2025 than SV 98.
After the first half of the season, SV Elversberg had the third-best defence in the league. After the winter break, Horst Steffen’s team has so far been anything but defensively strong. The SVE had already conceded eight goals in the second half of the season, five of them against Magdeburg alone. This means they have conceded the most goals in the 2nd Bundesliga since the restart in January.
A 2-0 lead is seen by the head coaches as one of the most dangerous results in a game. While the SVE extended this lead to a 4-0 win against SV 98 in the first half of the season, things look different after the winter break. Horst Steffen’s team lost a 2-0 lead twice against 1. FC Magdeburg (2:5) and Karlsruher SC (2:2). In addition, all eight goals conceded in the second half of the season came in the second half. Striking: Both the SVE and the Lilies already conceded eight goals in the final quarter of an hour (excluding stoppage time). Jahn Regensburg alone had to concede more goals during this period.
Although the Lilies only scored from set pieces in the second half of the season, they scored 32 of their 36 goals from the running game in the first half of the season. At SV Elversberg, only three penalties and one free kick resulted in a set piece goal. The 125 corners they have taken this season have not resulted in a goal once. The remaining 31 goals this season always come from open play.
Isac Lidberg scored nine goals in 14 games in the Lilies jersey, making him the most dangerous player on the Darmstadt side. However, the striker was recently absent due to injury. With him in the front row, the Darmstadt team scored 24 points in 14 games. On the SV Elversberg side, their top scorer Fisnik Asllani was suspended against Karlsruher SC. The scorer previously recorded ten goals and five assists. When the loanee from TSG Hoffenheim scored, the Saarlanders scored an average of 2.3 points per game. However, if he failed to score, they averaged just one point.
It’s been a long time since Luca Pascal Schnellbacher wore the blue and white jersey with the Lily on the chest. He played in the youth ranks of SV Darmstadt 98 until 2012, before moving to neighbours Eintracht Frankfurt. The striker will be returning to southern Hesse on Saturday (08/02/1pm), but to score goals for SV Elversberg.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 15:9 |
| Away | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8:13 |
| Total | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 23:22 |
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
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.