Bolle. 3:30pm. Flag Day. Everything is prepared for the last home game of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season. On Sunday afternoon (May 12th) the Lilies at the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor will be visiting TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Hoffenheim can get one step closer to their European Cup ambitions; TSG is currently in eighth place. But before the Lilies meet Pellegrino Matarazzo and “his” Hoffenheim players, you will find all the important facts about the game here. What gives hope for a home win? What are the strengths of the people of Baden-Württemberg? You can find out in our top facts about the game.
Shortly before Christmas, both teams had a real goal festival, and in mid-December the final score in Sinsheim was 3:3. From the Lilies‘ point of view, it could definitely be seen as a point won, as Lieberknecht’s team was already 0-1 behind after 14 minutes. After Luca Pfeiffer scored the equaliser less than ten minutes later, it was clear to many in the stadium that it probably wouldn’t have been the last goal. Hoffenheim’s striker Ihlas Bebou gave TSG the lead 2-1 and 3-2, but SVD’s Tim Skarke equalised twice and secured a point for the Lilies.
TSG scored 20 of their 40 points this season away from home and Hoffenheim are in a solid sixth place in the away table. But if you look at the shape curve, it goes steeply downwards. The Sinsheimers won all of their first five games on a foreign court, but there was only one win in the remaining eleven away games. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team has lost all of their last four away games.
In this Bundesliga season, Hoffenheim’s attackis particularly impressive; with 56 goals, they find themselves in the top third. Hoffenheim is also at the top of the league in statistics such as finishing efficiency and counterattack goals. It also plays a role that the TSG strikers score consistently; the Hoffenheim attackers scored 38 goals alone.
TSG’s defense is much worse; with 64 goals conceded, TSG has the third-worst defense in the entire Bundesliga. Away from home, Sinsheim concedes an average of more than two goals per game; most recently, Bochum scored three times and FSV Mainz even scored four times in duels with TSG.
Torsten Lieberknecht will have to do without Christoph Zimmermann on Sunday. The central defender picked up his fifth yellow card in the 90+2 minute last weekend and is therefore suspended for the home game against TSG Hoffenheim. The two defensive players Emir Karic and Jannik Müller have to be careful, both defenders have four yellow cards. Hoffenheim’s coach Pellegrino Matarazzo doesn’t have to do without any suspended players.
It will certainly be a very special game this weekend for midfielder Julian Justvan. The professional, on loan from TSG, was already on the pitch in the first leg, but he was still wearing the Hoffenheim jersey. In the 90th minute, Justvan came on for Ozan Kabak when the score was 3:3.
Andreas Müller and Luca Pfeiffer also have a past with the Sinsheimers. Although neither of them ever played a professional game for TSG, they spent part of their youth here. Andi Müller played for Hoffenheim for a total of eight years before moving to Astoria Walldorf.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7:6 |
| Away | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12:13 |
| Overall | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19:19 |
Attention Lilien fans: During SV Darmstadt 98’s training camp in Bad Wörishofen (Allgäu region)—taking place from July 19th to July 26th, 2026—there will once again be an opportunity to meet the team, chat with the players, and, of course, get autographs and photos. The fan meet-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, following the friendly match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Kick-off for the match is at 12pm.
SV 98 remains active in the transfer market. The "Lilies" have signed Christopher Lannert from Arminia Bielefeld.
Friendly matches, fundraising campaigns, and plenty of photos—that’s what the week looked like for SV 98 and the club’s community. Between their 5–1 victory over FC Homburg and the upcoming friendly in Walldorf this Friday (July 17), the „Lilies“ showed their best side for the cameras. In addition, the SV 98 legends team will face an Odenwald select squad on Sunday (July 19th). You can also win great prizes in competitions taking place in Erbach and at the pop-up store in downtown Darmstadt. Lilies Across the Board brings you all the latest news from life at SV 98.
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.