On Saturday (09.11/1pm) it will be historic in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor: The Lilies will play their 900th second division game here! On this special occasion, Darmstadt welcomes Hertha BSC – and it promises to be an exciting duel. You can find out what makes this encounter particularly interesting in our “Top Facts” about the upcoming game.
SV Darmstadt 98 has recently blossomed again under Florian Kohfeldt. If you just look at the last seven match days, the Lilies would be in third place in the table with twelve points. Since the new coach has been on the sidelines, the Darmstadt team has been able to achieve three impressive victories: they scored five goals in each of these games, most recently away against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. In addition, there were three draws and only one defeat – a narrow 1-2 against 1. FC Magdeburg at home.
… Hertha has been away so far in this year’s second division season. With three wins and one draw, the Berliners are the only team so far that has not lost on foreign turf. For the first time in the club’s history, the “Old Lady” managed to successfully play the first five away games in the 2nd Bundesliga. Things also went well in the DFB Cup: In the first round, Hertha celebrated a convincing 5-1 win over Hansa Rostock, relegated from the second division, and thus set another exclamation mark.
Darmstadt could certainly end Hertha’s impressive away streak. Between 1983 and 1993, the two teams met twelve times in the 2nd Bundesliga, and the Lilies were particularly successful at the “Bölle”: They won four of the six home games back then. Hertha did not manage a single second division victory in Darmstadt during this time. A total of five Darmstadt victories compare to three Hertha successes in the 2nd league. However, the recent record speaks in favour of the „Old Lady“ from the capital: The Berliners won the last three meetings at the Merck Stadium – twice in the Bundesliga and once in the DFB Cup.
He is unstoppable. In the last league game against SpVgg. Greuther Fürth, Isac Lidberg scored his eighth goal in the ninth second division game with the Lily on his chest. This puts the Swede in first place on the current top scorer list. In addition, Darmstadt’s number seven has got three assists and has eleven scorer points this year, with which he also leads this ranking. As if that wasn’t enough, the striker has the highest finishing efficiency in the league with a value of +4.14.
On Saturday, the fans in the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor can expect a high-scoring game. Both teams have so far clearly exceeded their expected xGoals value. Darmstadt has already scored 23 times – with an xGoals value of 16.4. In the league, only Hamburger SV (25) and 1. FC Nürnberg (24) were able to score more goals than SVD. Hertha is also effective in front of goal: the Berliners have scored 19 goals this season, although their xGoals value is 14.7. That puts them just above the league average.
Even if Fabian Holland can’t be on the pitch himself this time, the meeting with Hertha is always a special one for the captain. Holland wore the blue and white Hertha jersey for twelve years and made the leap from youth football to the professional level. The 34-year-old played a total of 25 competitive games for the professional team, laying the foundation for his successful career.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12:15 |
| Away | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7:16 |
| Overall | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 19:31 |
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.