The Lilies want to reach the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for the first time since 1987. But to do that, the Darmstadt team has to overcome the big challenge at Werder Bremen – the six-time DFB Cup winner. On Tuesday evening (December 3rd/8:45pm) both teams will duel in the Weserstadion. We take a look at the most important figures and facts about the game in our Top Facts.
These are the stations of SV Darmstadt 98 in the current cup round 2024/25. In round one, the Lilies had to play away at regional league team Teutonia Ottensen. Kai Klefisch gave the Darmstadt team the lead in the Millerntorstadion, where the game was played, with a dream goal worth seeing, Fabian Nürnberger and Oscar Vilhelmsson ensured further Lilien goals and an ultimately deserved 3-1 win against Ottensen. In the second round of the cup there was much more spectacle! Away at Dynamo Dresden, a real cup thriller developed, which went into extra time after 90 minutes and a 2-2 draw. Aleksandar Vukotic and Tobias Kempe scored for SV 98 in regular time, and Isac Lidberg completed the 3-2 win against the third division team in extra time.
From the Weser to the Spree. Werder Bremen played an away game at Energie Cottbus in the first round of the DFB Cup. In the Friendship Stadium, the Werder team cleared the hurdle of the third division team. The Green-Whites triumphed 3-1. Three goals from the currently injured Keke Topp ensured that SVW moved into the second round. There the Bremen team had to play away again. At SC Paderborn, head coach Ole Werner’s team secured their ticket to the round of 16 thanks to a 1-0 win. Marvin Ducksch scored the decisive goal.
Bayern Munich is the German record cup winner with 20 titles. Behind them in second place is the upcoming Lily opponent. Werder Bremen celebrated six DFB Cup triumphs – with ten final appearances. The Werder team last lifted the golden trophy into the Berlin night sky in 2009. The Green-Whites previously won the cup in 2004, 1999, 1994, 1991 and 1961.
What a long time. Florian Kohfeldt worked at Werder Bremen for a good 20 years – first as a player for the green and white amateurs, then as a coach. As head coach, the now 42-year-old oversaw a total of 142 competitive games for the Werder professionals from 2017 to 2021. He previously served as interim coach for one game and as coach of Werder’s second team from 2016 to 2017. Kohfeldt held other jobs as an assistant coach to Viktor Skrypnyk – under him he worked with the professionals as well as in the youth and second team of the SVW.
Only Tobias Kempe from the SV Darmstadt 98 squad played for Werder Bremen. The midfielder moved to the Green-Whites‘ youth team in 2006. There he played for the SVW U18 and U19 teams. He then made a total of 48 appearances for Werder’s second team from 2008 to 2010, scoring four goals and eleven assists.
Peter Niemeyer wore the SV Darmstadt 98 jersey from 2015 to 2018. The native of North Rhine-Westphalia played with the Lilies in both the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga. In total, the former defensive midfielder played 55 competitive games for the Böllenfalltor team. After his active career ended, Niemeyer then worked at Twente Enschede and Preußen Münster. The 41-year-old has been back on the Weser since June of this year. He once played for Werder Bremen from 2007 to 2010, and today he is the head of the licensed player department.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | |
| Home | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 16:9 |
| Away | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7:23 |
| Toal | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 23:32 |
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.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.