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.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.