As in the first half of the season, the Lilies were able to claim their first three-pointer against FC Schalke 04 last Sunday (23.02). Of course, the Darmstadt team would like to continue to build on this success and now collect the next points in Magdeburg on Sunday (02.03/1.30pm). In the first leg, SV Darmstadt 98 narrowly lost 2-1. Now the away win should succeed. All interesting numbers & We have put together facts about the game for you in our “Top Facts”.
The Lilies probably like to go there… SV Darmstadt 98 has won all of its four away games so far against 1. FC Magdeburg. The South Hesse team won twice in the DFB Cup and twice in the 2nd Bundesliga. The Darmstadt team also seems to have a favourite result on the Elbe: SV 98 narrowly won 1-0 three times, and once 3-2 after extra time. In any case, the Lilies‘ record against FCM is impressive: Magdeburg only won against SV 98 for the first time in the first leg. The two teams had previously met six times. The Lilies always left the pitch as winners.
Many goals and 1. FC Magdeburg simply belong together this season. With 48 goals, FCM is one of the most dangerous teams in the 2nd Bundesliga. Only Hamburger SV scored more goals this season (51). If you just look at the second half of the season, things are even more impressive offensively. When it comes to scoring goals, the hosts are in first place. In total, Magdeburg hit the opponent’s goal 16 times after the turn of the year, more often than any other team in the 2nd Bundesliga. However, with twelve goals conceded in the second half of the season, they also conceded the most against them.
To score goals, the ball must reach the opponent’s box. Something that both teams have internalised. In the 2nd Bundesliga, hardly anyone can beat the Lilies and 1. FC Magdeburg when it comes to shots on goal. While SV Darmstadt 98 fired a total of 340 times at the opponent’s goal, FCM is just behind with 333 shots. Only 1. FC Köln shot at their opponents‘ goal more often (378). The Magdeburgers also create the most big chances in the league (50). Their xGoals value (45.09) is therefore just below that of HSV (47.73). Darmstadt is in tenth place in these statistics (35.88).
Isac Lidberg has been waiting to finally play for SV 98 again since November due to injury. He did exactly that in the last league game against FC Schalke 04 – and not just once. After five minutes, the Swede had already sunk the ball into Justin Heekeren’s box twice. This brings the 26-year-old to eleven goals this season. Lidberg scored nine of these eleven goals when Fraser Hornby was his strike partner. When both played together in attack from the start, the Lilies have only lost one game so far, with six wins and five draws. The only defeat came in the first leg at home against Magdeburg.
Alexander Brunst wore the 1. FC Magdeburg jersey for two years. Together with FCM, the 29-year-old won the championship in the 3rd league in the 2017/18 season and the associated promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga. In total, Darmstadt’s number two played 37 competitive games for Magdeburg.
Andreas Müller also once played for the FCM. Just like Brunst, he also managed to get promoted to League Two, but a few years later – in 2022. At the Lilien, he is currently an integral part of the central midfield, similar to his time in Magdeburg. The 24-year-old played there 95 times in the cup and league before he came to southern Hesse from Saxony-Anhalt.
Due to a suspension, Baris Atik will not be seen again on the pitch. The offensive player came to SV Darmstadt 98 on loan from TSG Hoffenheim in the winter of 2018, but only stayed for six months and made five appearances for SV 98.
Patric Pfeiffer, on the other hand, was a Lilie for significantly longer. However, there is a question mark about his appearance in the next game due to an injury. In a total of four years at SV 98, the central defender made 85 competitive appearances and scored six goals. After promotion in 2023, he left the Lilies for Augsburg and later moved to the Young Boys in Bern on loan. Now in the winter he has been loaned out again by the FCA and moved to the second division club Magdeburg, where he has already played once.
Fabian Nürnberger will miss the Lilies against Magdeburg due to a red card. Clemens Riedel will also miss the game due to a yellow card suspension. Aleksandar Vukotic (9), Philipp Förster (4) and Fraser Hornby (4) have previous cautions.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 |
| Away | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 |
| Overall | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 11:5 |
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.