Ahead of the first home game of 2026, Florian Kohfeldt discusses the loaned-out players and assesses the two new signings. He also comments on the opponent. Our head coach addresses these and other topics before the match against 1. FC Nürnberg on Friday (January 23rd/6:30pm). We have compiled the most important statements from the press conference for you.
Personnel update: Matthias Bader, Bartosz Bialek and Killian Corredor remain sidelined with injuries. All other players are available.
There are understandable reasons for both departures. Both need playing time for their development. In Leon’s case, it’s a little more obvious. With Paul, I want to emphasise that we found a way forward together. He was an important part of our team. We considered long and hard whether this was the right move. Paul has the potential to be a regular starter for us, and we simply had bad timing: first the cruciate ligament tear, then he was ill during winter training. Furthermore, the guys in the double pivot, Hiro, Kai, and Mey, did an outstanding job. Our focus was clearly on his development. He’s now doing „the longest training camp in the world“ so that he can become a crucial player for us again in the summer.
Regarding Niklas Schmidt, I have to say that signing him was a fantastic achievement by Paul Fernie. It’s anything but a given to bring in a player from FC Toulouse who was already a Bundesliga professional with Werder Bremen. This player can play as a creative attacking number 10 and also as a creative double pivot. We’ve become a bit smaller in terms of squad depth, but we’re flexible. Niklas isn’t a replacement for Killian. He’s someone who expands our options. Killian isn’t an option for tomorrow yet, but we’re on the right track. I’m looking forward to having both Killian and Niklas in the squad soon.
Raoul Petratta is an experienced and established player, a technically gifted left-back. Due to his time in MLS, Raoul hasn’t had much team training in recent weeks and consequently hasn’t had much match practice. We’ll have to see if he’s ready for the squad yet. But we’re completely convinced of his fundamental quality. Overall, it was a very productive week for us, and we’re very happy with the group we’ll be going into the second half of the season with.
I have to give a huge shout-out to my coaching colleague. We left there in August when their squad was nowhere near what it is now. Miro had to make squad changes well into the season without any preparation, unlike us. Despite that, he managed to build a team with a clear style of play that is also successful. I know from my own experience how difficult that is. Nürnberg is a very strong team that constantly tries to find its rhythm and has moments of creativity. They keep integrating young players, like Scobel last matchday. They have speed with Zoma, and with Gruber and Lochoshvili, they have two very strong centre-backs in the tackle.
I have great respect for Nürnberg and the way they play football. But it’s also clear that we’re playing at home. We’re unbeaten at the Bölle all season. In fact, we’re unbeaten in eight games. Even though the Bochum game wasn’t top-notch for the full 90 minutes, you have to say that the first half was very good, apart from those two lapses. We’re now looking forward to the game against Nürnberg and the fantastic atmosphere. It will be a very attractive match for the fans. We’re going into the game with the confidence that we can say: Yes, Nürnberg is a good opponent. But we definitely have something to offer as well.
We’ve already discussed how to optimise the interaction between the team and the fans. The team council consulted with them before the recent discussion about the atmosphere, and Schuh subsequently brought these topics into the discussion. It’s great that the fan scene is thinking about how this can be improved. We all talk about the special atmosphere that can and does exist at the Bölle. But after a stadium renovation, it always takes time to readjust. That’s why I think it’s fantastic that there’s an exchange of ideas.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.