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 |
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:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.