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 |
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.
SV Darmstadt 98 successfully completed their second pre-season friendly, defeating Verbandsliga side VfR Fehlheim 8-0 (4-0).
