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 |
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.