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.
„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.”
„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.“
„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.“
„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.“
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
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: