First Home Defeat of the Season
Everything has to end and so the undefeated home record of SV 98 ended on Saturday night. Hannover 96 triumphed 2-0 (1-0) to hand the Lilies their first home loss of the season at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
12.04.2026 / English
„Hannover was better overall“
For the first time this season, SV Darmstadt 98 finished a match at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor without any points. The Lilies offered more resistance to Hannover 96's two goals in the second half. However, the pressure exerted by the South Hessians at the end proved fruitless. Read here what the players and both head coaches had to say about the defeat, which Darmstadt considered deserved overall.
Florian Kohfeldt:
„Congratulations to Hannover 96 on a well-deserved three points and a very good performance. I can’t really fault my team much. Hannover caused us problems, especially in our pressing. They were also extremely good in one-on-one situations in both directions, you have to acknowledge that. After going down 2-0, we had the feeling that things were going to get very difficult. But one character trait of my team deserves special mention: We don’t give up! That wasn’t rewarded, even though we didn’t deserve the equaliser today. We currently have some personnel issues, but we won’t use that as an excuse either. This team and this club have invested so much passion in this season and have had so much fun together, so there’s absolutely no way we’re going to do one thing: give up just because things are a bit bumpy right now. We saw a Darmstadt side that tried everything. That’s the foundation of this club.“
… about the fans:
“The support from our fans today was fantastic. I felt it was important to show my appreciation for them because I feel their connection. We truly value how they have supported us today and throughout the entire season. I’m looking forward to the coming weeks with them.”
Christian Titz:
„We beat one of the strongest opponents in the league today. One thing was clear before the game: we had to be solid defensively and close down the centre. We were able to thwart a lot of Darmstadt’s attacks. In transition, we had a few situations where we weren’t as clinical in front of goal. The 2-0 lead gave me a good feeling, but we were also aware of their long balls and how dangerous they could be. I think we deserved to be the winners thanks to our work rate and the intensity we showed. I wish Darmstadt all the best for the final stretch of the season.“
Matej Maglica:
„The first half clearly belonged to Hannover. In the second half, we showed that we can compete and dominate. If we had scored the first goal, the game would have been different. Hannover was the better team overall today. Of course, we have some players out, but we can’t use that as an excuse. I have 100 percent confidence in the players who are on the pitch. We always want to give our all and always try to play well. The guys in the locker room are 100 percent focused before the game. They were a good opponent today; they defended well. We have to keep going.“
…Regarding the second goal:
„I positioned myself in front of the ball because I wanted to avoid what happened. The referee sent me away, they took the free kick short, and then scored. I have to accept his decision.“
Marcel Schuhen:
„We hadn’t lost at home in a long time. Today we played against a top opponent. After conceding the first goal, we didn’t lose our heads and played well until halftime. We had a good to very good second half with chances, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Today we missed our top striker, with all due respect to Fynn, who did extremely well. We missed Kai, who is the heart of our midfield. And with Luca out, we’re missing our one-on-one player on the left wing. But these aren’t excuses.
The most important thing is that we have training tomorrow and we want to work on it. We also saw that those who came off the bench really made an impact. Furu had a truly outstanding game. Fynn did well from the start. We have to focus on the positives as well.“
Team News: Three Changes to the Team
Another top match at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. On matchday 29 (April 11th/8:30pm), Hannover 96 visits Darmstadt. For the clash with their direct league rivals, Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting eleven. The suspended Lidberg and Klefisch are replaced by Lakenmacher and Papela, and Niklas Schmidt comes in for Marco Richter. Bartosz Bialek returns to the Darmstadt 98 matchday squad for the first time this calendar year after recovering from injury.
Matchday Guide: All Information before the Hannover Game
Once again at 8:30pm, floodlights, top match, and at the Bölle! On Saturday (April 11th/8:30pm), Hannover 96 visits Darmstadt, and once again two teams from the top five meet at Nieder-Ramstädter-Straße. What do the two head coaches have to say before the match? Who will be the referee? And who will be the commentator? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the game against the Lower Saxony side for you in "Matchday Compact."
‚A maximally cool situation‘
Florian Kohfeldt spoke at the press conference ahead of the match against Hannover 96 (April 11th/8:30pm) about the fast-paced first game, the strong opponent, and the squad. We've compiled the most important statements from our head coach for you.
Lilies support the „HEART SAFE“ initiative
At their home game on Saturday (April 11th, 8:30pm) at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, SV Darmstadt 98 will send an important message. Together with the Björn Steiger Foundation and the German Heart Foundation, the club will promote the HERZSICHER (Heart Safe) initiative. The initiative aims to empower as many people as possible to perform CPR in the event of cardiac arrest through free 60-minute resuscitation courses. The German Football Association (DFB) is a cooperation partner.
At Bölle: ‚Lionel Richie Tribute Night‘ with Jimmie Wilson
An evening full of classics: At the "Lionel Richie Tribute Night" on June 27, 2026 (Saturday evening, doors open at 8:30pm), Jimmie Wilson will bring the greatest hits of the American soul singer live to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. A concert evening presented by SV Darmstadt 98 Stadion GmbH in a special atmosphere – whether for singing along, dancing, or simply enjoying the music.
Opposition Check: Hannover 96
“A colourful house, a monkey, and a horse” – Pippi Longstocking isn't the only one with these mascots; these two animal friends also feature in the mascot history of Hannover 96. The club has been supported by many different animals in the past, including a monkey and a horse.
Organisational information for the Hannover game / Restrictions in tram services
On Saturday evening (April 11th/8:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will host the team from Hannover 96 and asks you to take note of the following information.
Facts and Stats: The Stats Ahead of the Hannover Game
SV Darmstadt 98 aims to extend their home record. However, the task ahead is a tough one: As the league's best home team, the Lilies host Hannover 96, the second-best away team and also their direct rivals in the standings. Both teams are deservedly in the top third of the table, having impressed both offensively and defensively. We've compiled all the key facts and figures for Saturday evening's second division clash. Here you'll find the top facts about the match between the team from southern Hesse and the Lower Saxony side.
A message from Paul: „All together for Darmstadt 98“
“Fernie becomes sporting director at SV 98” – SV Darmstadt 98 made this announcement exactly two years ago today, on April 8, 2024. Paul Fernie has been working as sporting director for the Lilies for two years now. In his Lilienkurier column “Post from Paul,” the 38-year-old looks back on his first two years at the Böllenfalltor stadium – words that we would also like to share with you on our homepage.
“A real treat awaits us” | Fernie celebrates its second anniversary
Looking ahead. Bielefeld is behind us, Hannover is the next target. We report from the media briefing with Marco Richter, as well as on the young Lilies and our partner club from San Antonio. This week we also celebrate the anniversary of the Lilies‘ sporting director and several birthdays. Read „Lilies Across the Board“ here.
Happy Birthday, Alfred Krämer!
SV Darmstadt 98 congratulates its honorary member Alfred Krämer on his milestone birthday. The long-time chairman of the board of directors of the Lilies celebrates his 80th birthday on April 6th. Until his voluntary retirement in 2021, Krämer served the club for nearly two decades in a leading position on the board of directors, making invaluable contributions.