While Bielefeld are looking to improve their record to secure safety at the end of the season, SV Darmstadt 98 are eager to finally pick up three points away from home. In Saturday's match (April 4th, 1pm) between Arminia Bielefeld and Darmstadt, the 15th-placed team hosts the fourth-placed side. You can read about the areas where the two teams are closely matched, as well as all the key facts and figures, in the Top Facts section below.
Since their 2-0 away win in Magdeburg, Bielefeld has now gone five matches without another victory. During this period, Bielefeld has recorded the worst record of all Bundesliga teams, managing only one point. As a result, they have slipped from tenth place to fifteenth, finding themselves level on points with Holstein Kiel, who occupy the relegation playoff spot, in the tight relegation zone. However, head coach Mitch Kniat’s team has also had a tough run of fixtures. Their recent opponents were Hannover, Schalke, Paderborn, and Elversberg – all teams currently in the top five.
Darmstadt, on the other hand, boast an excellent home record, but have drawn six of their last seven away matches and suffered one defeat. While Bielefeld are desperately seeking a victory to escape the relegation zone, Darmstadt are aiming for their first away win in quite some time.
Arminia Bielefeld can look back on a strong record against Darmstadt ahead of this encounter. They are unbeaten in their last eight matches against the Lilies, securing six wins and two draws. Furthermore, they demonstrated resilience in the first leg at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, twice coming back from behind to take a point back to East Westphalia. Florian Kohfeldt’s team will be looking to change that record. Fabian Holland, in particular, is aiming not only to take three points from the SchücoArena for the first time, but also to achieve this feat in his 250th second-division appearance, should he play.
Darmstadt often enters a match stronger than their opponents, at least on paper, when it comes to set pieces. This is because the South Hessians have already given their fans reason to cheer 16 times from a set piece. Only Paderborn have scored more often in this category (17). However, Darmstadt’s defence will need to be wary of set pieces on Saturday afternoon. Bielefeld are also extremely dangerous in this area – their 16 goals speak for themselves. In open play, however, the Kniat-coached team struggles somewhat. They have only scored 23 goals from open play, while Darmstadt have been successful 33 times.
Darmstadt 98 impress with their aerial dominance: ten of their 39 goals have come from the head – almost reaching the top of the league, with only Paderborn ahead with 13. Darmstadt 98 have scored eight goals in this category. However, they are defensively solid: Darmstadt have conceded just four headed goals – only Kaiserslautern have a better record with three.
Five Darmstadt players are at risk of receiving yellow cards in the match against Arminia Bielefeld. Fraser Hornby, Kai Klefisch, Isac Lidberg, Merveille Papela and Aleksandar Vukotić have each been booked four times so far this second division season.
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
|
Home |
13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 28:21 |
|
Away |
12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9:20 |
|
Overall |
25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 37:41 |
What awaits SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday afternoon against Arminia Bielefeld? How did the 98ers use the international break, and what are Florian Kohfeldt's thoughts on the final stretch of the season? The Lilies' head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Thursday before the match at the Alm (April 4th, 1pm). We've summarised the most important statements from our head coach's press conference for you.
The sun is shining on the Bielefeld Alm on Saturday afternoon (April 4th, 1pm). On matchday 28 of this second division season, DSC Arminia Bielefeld hosts SV Darmstadt 98. To ensure you have all the information you need for your trip to the SchücoArena, here's what you need to know about your visit.
2025 was Arminia's year! After being relegated from the top German league in the 2021/22 season, Bielefeld were relegated all the way down to the third division. But their last season there belonged to Arminia: as champions of the 3. Liga in 2024/25, they were promoted to the 2. Bundesliga, and they also caused a major upset in the DFB Cup.
Marcel Schuhen is eager to get back to Bielefeld and explained just that in a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon (April 1st). The Bölle Gang and numerous other kids were also out in force this week. With the Easter egg hunt at the Bölle stadium and the Merck-Lilien football camp at the youth academy, there was something for even the youngest Lilies to enjoy. You can read about these and other topics in "Lilies Across the Board". As usual, our weekly column features numerous articles about club life at SV Darmstadt 98.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team failed to secure any points away at SV Weidenhausen on Saturday (March 28th/3pm). Despite leading at halftime and putting in a strong effort, they ultimately suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat.
After their eventful days in San Antonio, the Darmstadt delegation concludes their trip to Texas in Beaumont. And the scene that greets the team from southern Hesse initially seems like a crazy dream. Far from home and under the Texas sun, a club wears the Lily on its chest and the Darmstadt name on its back.
A delegation led by Darmstadt 98 president Markus Pfitzner is using the current international break in March for a trip to San Antonio to further strengthen the connection with cooperation partner San Antonio FC, gain deeper insights into the local economy, and immerse themselves in the culture and history of Darmstadt’s sister city. We will be covering their time in Texas on this page.
The German Football League (DFL) announced the exact times for the remaining matchdays on Friday afternoon (March 27). The home game on matchday 31 against SV Elversberg will take place on Saturday evening (April 25) at 8:30pm. This will be followed by two away games against Karlsruher SC (May 3) and Preußen Münster (May 10), both at 1:30pm. On the final matchday, Darmstadt will host SC Paderborn at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor at 3:30pm. (May 17).
SV Darmstadt 98 won their friendly match against 1. FC Saarbrücken during the international break. Florian Kohfeldt's team triumphed 4-2 (2-1) at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, behind closed doors.
Following his injury, Luca Marseiler posted an emotional message on Instagram, while Patric Pfeiffer has been called up to the Ghanaian national team for the first time. You'll also find out what the other Darmstadt teams have been up to. All this and more, as always, in our "Darmstadt Across the Board" section.
Born in Hamburg in 1999 and raised in the Hanseatic city, Patric Pfeiffer's roots lie in Ghana, his mother's homeland. He has now been called up to the Ghanaian national team for the first time, and two special international matches await the SV Darmstadt 98 centre-back: first against Austria (March 27th, 6pm), then against Germany (March 30th, 8:45pm). Before the 26-year-old departs with the West Africans, we arranged an interview with him. A conversation about family and dreams, memories and old acquaintances.
The worst fears have been confirmed: Luca Marseiler suffered a torn cruciate ligament in the home match against FC Schalke 04. The 29-year-old sustained the injury in the 23rd minute without any contact from an opponent. Marseiler will be sidelined for several months. Further treatment and the timing of the surgery will be decided in the coming days.