SV Darmstadt not only presents a focused defence but also a versatile attack. The current league table makes the Lilies appear significantly stronger than Eintracht Braunschweig. However, Braunschweig's form is clearly trending upwards, so one shouldn't be misled. We've compiled all the important facts and figures for Saturday's match (February 14th, 1pm) here for you.
Darmstadt versus Braunschweig: first place versus fourteenth. However, looking solely at the table of the last eight matches paints a different picture: second place versus fifth! Braunschweig has only collected two fewer points than Darmstadt from their last eight games. While Eintracht Braunschweig has amassed 14 points, only Darmstadt and 1. FC Magdeburg (both with 16) have earned more.
Heiner Backhaus’s team has significantly improved its points tally, but a weakness remains in attack. Braunschweig has scored 23 goals so far, with only Fortuna Düsseldorf scoring fewer. Their expected goals (xG) of 25.5 are lower only than those of Greuther Fürth – and on average, the Lower Saxony side needs twelve shots to find the back of the net.
SV 98, on the other hand, is proving far more clinical. Every seventh shot brings joy to all the fans who support the Lilies. The 98ers have already experienced this moment 40 times in this second-division season – no other team has scored more goals.
Closely linked to this is their strength at set pieces. Their impressive goal tally also stems from the versatility of the South Hessian attack. Thirteen goals from set pieces is the best in the league, and in the second half of the season, Kohfeldt’s players have scored at least one goal from a set piece in every match so far. They’ve also occasionally found the back of the net from free kicks: four goals from direct free kicks is another league best.
In contrast, the Blue-Yellows haven’t scored from a set piece since matchday 15. Furthermore, they have only scored four times in total from a set piece.
While the team currently in 14th place still has room for improvement in attack, their defence is significantly more solid at set pieces. Of the 35 goals they’ve conceded, Braunschweig have only let in five from dead-ball situations. Only two other second-division teams defend set pieces more effectively: Schalke 04 have conceded just four goals from set pieces – the same number as Darmstadt.
Darmstadt have frequently managed to steal points from matches against Braunschweig or keep them at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The team from southern Hesse has amassed an impressive 19 points from their last ten encounters against the Lower Saxons.
However, looking solely at the last three meetings reveals a more balanced picture. Braunschweig’s only victory in the last ten matches is relatively recent. Almost exactly a year ago, when Darmstadt visited Eintracht Stadium, the hosts celebrated a win. The previous match ended in a draw, while Darmstadt narrowly won the first leg 2-1.
Nevertheless, Darmstadt traditionally struggles away from home in Braunschweig. In 13 matches, they have managed only two wins and suffered seven defeats, with a goal difference of 8-22.
It’s matchday five of the season. Eintracht Braunschweig are visiting the Böllenfalltor stadium. The score is 1-1. The clock shows the 84th minute – and Florian Kohfeldt makes a substitution: centre-back Matej Maglica comes on for Fraser Hornby.
Just two minutes later, Darmstadt are awarded a free kick – on the edge of the Eintracht penalty area. Maglica places the ball, waits for the referee’s whistle, takes a run-up, and unleashes a shot that reaches 132 km/h (80 mph) and finds the back of the net. No other goal in this second-division season has been scored at a higher speed. With that strike, he secured three points for Darmstadt.
Heiner Backhaus’s team has conceded 35 goals so far, while Marcel Schuhen has only had to pick the ball out of his net 22 times. Only two teams have conceded fewer goals than Darmstadt.
Eintracht Braunschweig’s opponents, meanwhile, have an expected goals (xG) of only 31.38, meaning they have conceded more goals than statistically expected. The opposite is true for SV Darmstadt 98: their opponents have an expected goals (xG) of 29.41, but their actual number of goals conceded is significantly lower.
Marco Richter and Fraser Hornby each have four yellow cards. Another booking would therefore result in a suspension.
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
|
Home |
14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 26:16 |
|
Away |
13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 8:22 |
|
Overall |
27 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 34:38 |
As Florian Kohfeldt approached the team's dressing room at halftime, the Darmstadt head coach heard exactly one sentence: "It's not finished." Fraser Hornby had uttered it, setting the tone for his teammates and himself. What followed was a remarkable second half from Darmstadt 98 and a point against SV Elversberg, a point that, while likely insufficient for their promotion hopes in southern Hesse, nonetheless filled the Darmstadt fans with pride.
For every home goal scored by the Lilies, SV Darmstadt 98 fans will be doubly rewarded in the 2025/26 season. In addition to the joy and excitement, the Lilies' supporters will also receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.
They fought to the very end, playing with ten men, and tried everything. But in the end, Darmstadt had to settle for a 3-3 draw against SV Elversberg in the sold-out Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. How do the Darmstadt players and staff assess the passionate 90 minutes at the Bölle? What did both head coaches have to say about the match? We've compiled all the reactions for you.
No winner in the clash of the pursuers: Darmstadt 98's home game against SV Elversberg ended in a 3-3 (2-3) draw. After three consecutive defeats, SV 98 managed to secure at least a point and now has 51 points this season. Pfeiffer (14th minute) and Hornby (15th and 51st minutes) scored for the team from southern Hesse.
It's home game day at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. On Saturday evening, the 31st matchday of the 2. Bundesliga, SV Darmstadt 98 hosts SV Elversberg. Head coach Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting eleven compared to last week. Raoul Petretta replaces Fabian Nürnberger (thigh injury). Yosuke Furukawa also starts in place of Killian Corredor against the team from Saarland.
A new match under the floodlights awaits! On Saturday evening (April 25th, 8:30pm), Darmstadt 98 play against SV Elversberg. What are the coaches' opinions before the game? Who will referee, broadcast, and commentate the match? And what kind of weather can Darmstadt fans expect at the stadium? All the information is compiled for you in "Matchday Guide."
What are Florian Kohfeldt's thoughts on Saturday evening's match (April 25th/8:30pm) against SV Elversberg? Where does he see the strengths of their upcoming opponent? And how does his team plan to get back on track after three consecutive defeats? The Darmstadt head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Friday (April 24th) in the catacombs of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. We've summarised Kohfeldt's key statements from the press conference for you.
On Saturday evening (April 26th/8:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will host the team from SV 07 Elversberg and asks you to take note of the following information.
In the world of football, a yo-yo team is a team that oscillates between two leagues – too good for one league, but not quite at the level of the next higher one. The result is usually many promotions and many relegations. But SV Elversberg is currently redefining the term. For several years now, the yo-yo has been taking SVE almost exclusively upwards.
Saturday evening at the Böllenfalltor, the seventh edition! This time, SV Darmstadt 98 hosts SV Elversberg at the Merck Stadium. Both teams are strong offensively and convincing defensively. But where do the differences lie? And in which statistics do both the team from southern Hesse and the Saarlanders lead the pack? We've compiled all the facts and figures for this match right here for you.
The news that Fabian Holland will no longer play for Darmstadt at the end of this season affected everyone at the club. We take a look at it. Also exciting this week: The U17s host Eintracht Frankfurt's youth team in Pfungstadt today, Wednesday (April 22nd/5pm) for the Hessian derby in the Hesse Cup; the Darmstadt first team will wear members' jerseys against SV Elversberg next Saturday (April 25th/8:30pm); and the Darmstadt VIP box has been temporarily converted into a yoga camp. "Darmstadt Across the Board" on Wednesday is available here.
The end of an era. Fabian Holland's twelfth season in the Lilies' jersey will be his last with SV 98. The 35-year-old's contract, which expires at the end of the season, will not be renewed. The club informed Holland of this decision in a confidential meeting. Both club and player agree to focus entirely on achieving the best possible end to the season until the final match and that any plans for a farewell celebration will depend on how the rest of the season unfolds.