How does Florian Kohfeldt view the current week? How does one even train between so many matches in just a few days? And what kind of opponent will Darmstadt face? Ahead of Saturday evening's home game (November 1st/8:30pm) against Arminia Bielefeld, the head coach of SV 98 answered these and other questions. We've summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Fabian Nürnberger and Alexander Brunst will miss the match against Bielefeld. All other players are available.
We showed on Wednesday that we’re capable of playing very decent football and putting in a very solid performance. That’s the foundation for results. For us, the match against Arminia Bielefeld is the third highlight game in a row. First, away at Schalke, then the cup match, apart from the medical emergency, was the magical evening we’d all hoped for. And now comes the next highlight against Arminia Bielefeld: Saturday evening, 8:30pm, Bölle. Arminia is an incredibly strong newly promoted team that wrote an incredible cup story last season and has made a good start to the new campaign. It’s going to be a tough match for us on Saturday evening. The Schalke game on Wednesday helped us find our form again to some extent. We didn’t get into our stride after the international break. But that evening gave us confidence and also more options in terms of personnel. Some players put in a good performance and took their chance. That’s a good situation for us, especially during a midweek fixture.
Bielefeld is a very intense team, defined largely by its intensity. They are the most energetic team in the league and consistently rank highly in all relevant and meaningful running statistics. The extra 30 minutes they played in the cup aren’t crucial given their current fitness level. Arminia played a top-class match against Union Berlin. They battled for a long time away against the Bundesliga side, fighting for their place in the next round of the cup. Emotionally, losing in extra time was certainly a blow. They’ll be fired up, which can be a good thing in a match. We are therefore very wary.
There’s hardly any traditional training this week. On Wednesday evening, everyone actively recovered together, which is crucial. The focus is clearly on recovery and video sessions. For me, video sessions are also a form of training and, especially in a week like this, a very important element in preparing for the Bielefeld match. Today, Friday, we’ll be exercising, and on Saturday evening before the game, we’ll have a short light workout. For the players, a week with so many games is probably the best thing there is: play, recover, play.
I’m not worried about Patric Pfeiffer at all. With Isac Lidberg, we’ll have to see if he can play longer than he did on Wednesday. He was incredibly intense in the first half. He’s recovered well and is generally feeling good. I can’t say yet how long he’ll be able to play on Saturday. The plan was for Kai Klefisch to play 60 minutes against Schalke. In the end, it was 70 minutes because the game was very hectic during that period. He’s a clear candidate for the starting eleven on Saturday.
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: