With their 4-1 home victory against VfL Bochum, SV Darmstadt 98 achieved the biggest opening victory in their history in the 2. Bundesliga. They'll need to carry on this momentum on Friday (08/08/6:30pm), as the South Hesse team will travel to 1. FC Nürnberg. We've compiled the most important facts and figures for SV 98's first away game ahead of the two teams' clash.
SV Darmstadt 98 made a convincing start to the new season: In their 4-1 home win against VfL Bochum, the Lilies showed enthusiasm, efficiency – and, above all, hunger for goals. The focus of last Saturday afternoon was Isac Lidberg, who not only became the match-winner with a hat trick, but also secured his place in the 2. Bundesliga history books: No player has ever scored more goals on a league opening matchday.
With this confidence, they now head to their away game in Nürnberg, where the South Hesse team will once again rely on a solid team performance to achieve success away from home. 1. FC Nürnberg, on the other hand, had a bitter start to the season: In a match that was evenly matched for much of the season against SV Elversberg – last year’s relegation playoff contender for promotion to the Bundesliga – the Franconians conceded the decisive goal in the 90th minute following a corner kick, making it 0-1.
With Aleksandar Vukotić (2.01m) and Patric Pfeiffer (1.96m), the Lilies‘ defence boasts two true defensive giants – and thus a strong physical presence. But height isn’t just an asset in defence: SV Darmstadt 98 also posed a threat from attacking set pieces in their first match of the season against VfL Bochum, proving efficient. The South Hesse side scored two goals from corners: Vukotić won the opening goal with his power in a header, setting up the goal. He was then on hand for the second set piece, heading the ball directly into the net.
Last season, former DFB striker Miroslav Klose’s team boasted the fourth-best attack in the 2. Bundesliga with 60 goals. Following the departure of their top scorer, Stefanos Tzimas (12 goals), who returned to Brighton after his loan spell ended, Nürnberg now needs other goal-scoring players. With the signings of Semir Telalović, Mickaël Biron, Artem Stepanov, and Noah Maboulou, the Franconians have brought promising attacking talents on board – players who have the potential to breathe new life into the attack. Under a coach like Miroslav Klose, who was once the epitome of coolness in front of goal, the conditions should be ideal.
145 days – that’s how long 1. FC Nürnberg has now waited for a home victory. The Lilies, too, haven’t celebrated an away win since their 2-1 victory at Hannover 96 at the end of November last year. The conditions are perfect for a hard-fought clash between two highly motivated teams who are desperate to emerge victorious on Friday. A look at SV Darmstadt 98’s statistics is encouraging: The Club has only managed to win twice in their last ten home games against the Lilies.
1. FC Nürnberg currently has three players in its squad who have previously worn the Lilies jersey: Christian Mathenia guarded the goal for SV Darmstadt 98 from 2014 to 2016. During this time, he made 34 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga and played a part in the team’s promotion to the Bundesliga. He also played 33 times between the posts for the Lilies in the following first-division season before moving to Hamburger SV. Julian Justvan was on loan to SVD from TSG Hoffenheim in the second half of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season. In 14 appearances, the attacker scored two goals and provided two assists. Benjamin Goller wore the Lilies jersey in the first half of the 2021/22 season. The winger joined the club on loan from SV Werder Bremen and contributed two goals and one assist in his twelve appearances.
On the Lilies‘ side, there is one player who knows the traditional Franconian club very well: Fabian Nürnberger began his career in 2018 with 1. FC Nürnberg’s reserve team before becoming a permanent fixture in the first team in 2019. Until his move to SV Darmstadt 98 in 2023, the versatile defender played a total of 108 competitive matches for the club, scoring nine goals and providing six assists.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 33:29 |
| Away | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 24:35 |
| Overall | 37 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 57:64 |
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
