How can the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor and the Lilies' fans become the decisive factor on Friday evening (March 7th/6:30pm)? What does SV Darmstadt 98 need to do to successfully play the match against Karlsruher SC? And what are the strengths of their upcoming opponents? Florian Kohfeldt answered these and other questions at the press conference on Wednesday (March 5th). We have summarized the most important statements from the Darmstadt head coach for you.
Personnel update: Fabian Holland, Matthias Bader, Paul Will and Christoph Zimmermann as well as Kai Klefisch are out. Oscar Vilhelmsson and Othmane El Idrissi are also still unavailable. Fabian Nürnberger is, as is well known, out due to a red card suspension, Clemens Riedel is returning after serving a yellow card suspension. Philipp Förster is still out due to illness. It is currently not foreseeable when he will return.
We need a mixture of energy, straightforwardness and patience to prepare for our moments. When we have the ball, we need a mix of aggressive attack and alertness. We must always keep in mind that KSC can make a lot out of very little.
As with every evening game, we will go back to the day hotel and then travel together to the stadium in the team bus. This beloved bus ride is a crucial part of the trip because the journey through the city is very special. Before the game, we will also try to build a bond with the spectators. There have already been many cool moments on Friday evenings at the Bölle. I hope that we can experience a moment like that again. We want to work on it together with the spectators.
The Bölle and the fans can be a factor on Friday evening. I am pleased that the fans have found a close bond with us. On Friday evening – especially when there are difficult moments – it would be outstanding if the fans took on their role again and said: „OK, it’s difficult right now. But now we are here, now we are helping the team.“ We are aware of this. The fans can be an important part of the success that we are aiming for on Friday evening.
Karlsruher SC has a very mature and grown-up team. They have many players who have been playing in the league for a long time. They also have a real difference-maker in their ranks in Marvin Wanitzek. They changed the system from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 and have won twice recently. With the two victories they have gained some peace of mind and can even look up again. In terms of football they have a very determined team, especially in the final third. When they have the ball they are not above waiting in the block and enduring situations. They deliberately look for their pressing moments.
We played a really good away game in Magdeburg for 55 minutes. We had a lot of chances to score, only conceded one chance in that phase and defended everything, which is not a given against 1. FC Magdeburg. The crucial point was the 1-1. That led to an emotional situation that was not good. In the last half hour we conceded a lot, which Magdeburg punished. But together with the Schalke game, we were extremely stable for a total of 145-150 minutes. We ourselves were dangerous time and time again. The team should take that with them. However, we have to remain clear-headed and stick together, especially after moments like conceding goals. We shouldn’t have a half hour like that in Magdeburg again.
The emotional reaction after the 1-1 draw has various and understandable reasons. At the beginning of the season, it was all about how a team achieves emotional stability on the pitch. A lot of that is about leaders. We have chosen players to fulfil this role of emotional leadership – we are talking about Clemens Riedel, Kai Klefisch, Philipp Förster, Fraser Hornby, Fabian Nürnberger. Of these players, who are supposed to hold the team together emotionally and form an axis, only one was on the pitch in Magdeburg.
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.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.