The first away game of the season takes the Lilies to SC Paderborn. The encounter will kick off on Sunday (August 11th) at 1:30pm. SV 98 has a positive record against their upcoming opponents and has four players with SCP past in the squad. All the facts and figures about the game can be found here.
In the opening game at Hertha BSC, the SCP immediately set an exclamation mark. The Paderborn team won 2-1 in the Olympic Stadium and took three points at the start. Newcomer and second division debutant Felix Götze took the lead in the first half. After the break, returnee Sven Michel served his teammate Filip Bilbija outstandingly, the midfielder used the preparatory work to make it 2-0. Hertha only managed to score again thanks to Ibrahim Maza.
The Lilies can look back on a positive series against the SCP. In the last five meetings, SV 98 always got three points. In the 2022/23 season, Darmstadt won twice 2-1 against Lukas Kwasniok’s team.
Both teams started the season with a new rhythm and fresh energy, reinforced by new faces who were in the starting line-up in the first competitive game. Four new signings from East Westphalia were able to prove themselves against Hertha BSC right from the start: Felix Götze, new signing from Rot-Weiss Essen and brother of Mario Götze, Sven Michel, back in Paderborn after two seasons, 19-year-old Santiago Castaneda (came from MSV Duisburg) and Tjark Schneller (from St. Pauli II). Torsten Lieberknecht relied on Kai Klefisch, Aleksandar Vukotic, Sergio Lopez, Paul Will and Luca Marseiler in his starting lineup.
Several Lilies look back on a Paderborn past. Klaus Gjasula wore the SCP jersey in 58 competitive games and was promoted to the Bundesliga with Ostwestfalen. Tobias Kempe played a total of 15 second division games for Paderborn in the 2012/13 season and Luca Marseiler also looks back on a time at SCP, but did not make any competitive appearances.
Kai Klefisch, who moved from Paderborn to Böllenfalltor for the current season, has the freshest memories of the upcoming Lilien opponent. The midfielder previously played 48 games for Lukas Kwasniok’s team in two seasons. Kleifisch is also the only player who has already met the Lilies in the SCP jersey. In that encounter in April 2023 at the Merck Stadium, the Paderborn team lost 2-1.
SC Paderborn also has a player who knows Darmstadt very well. Former Lilie Felix Platte played for the South Hesse team for a total of six seasons. The now 28-year-old scored 11 goals in 88 competitive games. In three years at SC Paderborn so far, the attacker has played 71 games, scored 20 goals and prepared 12 goals. So far he has only played against his former club once – that time Darmstadt won 2-1 at Böllenfalltor.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6:5 |
| Away | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8:9 |
| Overall | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 14:14 |
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.