The last international break of the year is over. And the 2nd Bundesliga starts with a highlight: SV Darmstadt 98 travels to Lower Saxony to compete against league leaders Hannover 96 on November 23rd at 1pm. You can find out why Lower Saxony is currently at the top, what exciting stories this duel has already produced and what fans of both camps can expect in our “Top Facts”.
Hannover 96 are in impressive form in their home stadium this season. The team from Lower Saxony has won all six home games so far and hasn’t given up a single point. This flawless record is also reflected in the table with first place. The last time Lower Saxony achieved such a dominant home series was in the 2016/17 season. In the three seasons in which Hannover 96 celebrated the second division championship (1974/75, 1986/87, 2001/02), the team also started with six home wins in a row.
Hannover shines on defence. With only ten goals conceded, they have the best defence in the league. The 96ers‘ defense is an absolute force, especially at home. The away team has only been able to take photos twice in the six games so far in the Heinz von Heiden Arena. This makes Hannover the best team in the league in these statistics – although Lower Saxony shares this place with SC Paderborn.
Since 2015, SV Darmstadt 98 has had a remarkable record against Hannover 96. In eleven competitive games, the Lilies won seven times and only had to admit defeat twice. The most recent duel in the 2022/23 season ended evenly: both teams were able to use their home advantage and win.
SV Darmstadt 98 is currently the most dangerous team in the league: with 26 goals in twelve games, no team has scored more goals – only HSV scored as often. A large part of this offensive strength is played by Isac Lidberg, who is the sole top scorer with nine goals. Things look different at Hannover 96. The Lower Saxony team have only scored 16 goals so far and are therefore below the league average (19). Only the three promoted teams (SSV Jahn Regensburg, SSV Ulm, SC Preußen Münster) have scored fewer goals so far.
We are writing the month of August in 2015 when history was made: In the duel between SV Darmstadt 98 and Hannover 96, goal line technology was really used for the first time: Hannover’s Kenan Karaman headed the ball onto the bottom edge of the crossbar, but goal line technology was used delivered a clear result: “No Goal!” The referee’s clock confirmed that the ball had not completely crossed the line. The game ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw.
Hannover 96. An opponent that Darmstadt’s coach Florian Kohfeldt certainly remembers fondly. After all, the 42-year-old has already proven how to win against the 96ers in the past. On November 19, 2017 – in his first Bundesliga season on the sidelines of Werder Bremen, he achieved his first Bundesliga win ever at the Weserstadion – an impressive 4-0 against the Hanoverians.
Today Hannover coach, former Darmstadt player. Stefan Leitl once kicked for the Böllenfalltor team. The former attacking midfielder was under contract with SV Darmstadt 98 from 2004 to 2007. In a total of 93 competitive games, Leitl scored 14 goals and three assists. 96 sports director Marcus Mann also once played at Bölle. The defensive midfielder made a total of 33 appearances in the Lilies jersey in the 2006/07 season.
Fynn Lakenmacher will also see his former club again. The Lilien’s attacker once laced up the football boots for all of Hanover’s youth teams from 2010 to 2018.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 22:13 |
| Away | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 22:24 |
| Overall | 26 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 44:37 |
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
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.