The Lilies are currently the strongest team in the league. After winning 5-1 at home against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, SV 98 now has the best offence in the league. But before the well-deserved Christmas break, the professionals have the important final game of the year against SSV Jahn Regensburg on Sunday (December 22nd/1:30pm). We'll look at the facts and figures about the upcoming game together with you.
… in the 2nd Bundesliga, SV Darmstadt has 98! No other team in the league has so far scored more goals than the Lilies – 35 in total. Particularly noteworthy: The South Hesse team scored five goals of their own in four games. This was the case in the victories at Schalke (5-3) and in Fürth (5-1) as well as in the home games against Köln (5-1) and Kaiserslautern (5-1). All other teams only managed to do something like this once, if at all. Darmstadt 98 is also the most efficient team in the league: the Lilies only need an average of seven shots on goal to score a goal.
Will Darmstadt win? Or Regensburg? And can the spectators – no matter who wins – expect a 2-0 result at the weekend? The last four duels between the two teams ended with exactly this result. The winner changed again and again, but the scoreboard always showed 2-0. The last time both teams were in the same league was in 2022/23: Regensburg won 2-0 at home, the Lilien won 2-0 at the Bölle. In a direct comparison, however, the side from Bavaria are in a much better position against South Hesse: Unfortunately, Jahn was able to win eleven of the last 17 home games.
SSV Jahn Regensburg has led the most duels in the current season (3,474) – no other team has. The other side of the coin? Jahn was only able to win 47.8 percent of them, which is the weakest value in the league. Speaking of intensity. In terms of running, the Darmstadt team under Florian Kohfeldt have stepped up their game. The team runs an average of four kilometres more (117) than before Kohfeldt took office. The Lilies also recorded 15 sprints and 80 more intensive runs.
Both head coaches once coached abroad. Both Florian Kohfeldt and Andreas Patz worked on the sidelines of Belgian clubs. While the Regensburg coach was employed at Excelsior Mouscron and Cercle Brügge, Kohfeldt was under contract as head coach at KAS Eupen.
With only eight points collected, SSV Jahn Regensburg is at the bottom of the 2nd Bundesliga – five points behind the relegation place. Jahn has never had such a record after 16 match days in the 2nd league. Certainly two good reasons for this are the goals scored (7) and goals conceded (38) – these are both the fewest and most in the competition. But there could have been significantly more own hits – even more than twice as many. The SSV has an xGoals value of 16.8. Therefore: The Lilies definitely must not underestimate the bottom of the table!
Fabian Nürnberger and Kai Klefisch currently have four yellow cards. On the opposing side, Kai Pröger has to be careful because of his four yellow cards.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 23:18 |
| Away | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 17:38 |
| Total | 33 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 40:56 |
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.