Numbers & Facts: The top facts about the Kaiserslautern match

Darmstadt trailed 2-0 in Berlin – and the Lilies weren’t at their best throughout the first half against Nürnberg either. But despite his frustration, Florian Kohfeldt sees this as a strength of his team.

„We don’t lose our heads after difficult phases,“ the Darmstadt head coach explained after the Hertha match. This ability to bounce back after dips in performance and maintain belief in their chances of getting points is based on confidence in their own strengths. „We know there are a few things we can rely on,“ Kohfeldt continued. This season, SV 98 have fallen behind eight times, but have still managed to secure 14 points from those situations.

With this quality, SV Darmstadt 98 earned a draw in Berlin, securing not only a point but also extending their unbeaten run. This streak has now lasted for ten matches – currently the longest run in the 2. Bundesliga.

Among all 56 German professional clubs, only Borussia Dortmund, with 13 Bundesliga matches without a loss, can boast a better run. The Lilies are particularly thriving at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor: they have earned at least one point in every home game this season. Only SV Elversberg has achieved this feat in the 2. Bundesliga so far.

1. FC Kaiserslautern looks back on their last eleven second-division matches with mixed feelings. During this period, the Palatinate side only managed three victories. They’ve only picked up five points from their last five games. As a result, Kaiserslautern hasn’t been able to close the gap on the top teams, although they remain in the upper third of the table.

While Kaiserslautern recently lost at home to SV Elversberg, they have held their own against direct rivals earlier in the season. They collected three points in the first leg against league leaders Schalke 04 and were also successful against Hannover 96. Furthermore, they are one of only two teams to have managed to defeat Darmstadt this season.

A glance at the overall record of both teams initially paints a clear picture: it’s even. However, a closer look reveals a crucial factor: both teams have a significantly better record at their home ground.

Darmstadt 04 have yet to secure a victory at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion. At the Böllenfalltor, on the other hand, they have defeated 1. FC Kaiserslautern four times in seven matches, suffering only one defeat. Most recently, the team from southern Hesse celebrated a resounding 5-1 victory against Kaiserslautern in front of their home crowd.

It’s no coincidence that both teams are among the top three in the league’s attacking prowess. Both Darmstadt and Kaiserslautern’s forward lines have proven extremely efficient and clinical in front of goal this season in the second division.

FCK has scored the third-most goals with 35, while SV Darmstadt 98 currently has one more. The expected goals (xG) figures also underscore their offensive strength: Darmstadt’s is 33.98, Kaiserslautern’s 29.86, a figure surpassed by their actual goals scored. SV Elversberg is currently the league’s most prolific scorer with 37 goals.

But how many shots on goal do the Palatinate and South Hessian teams need to find the back of the net? On average, just eight! That’s the best figure in the league.

What makes a good team? They not only score goals but also impress with their defensive stability. Only three teams have conceded fewer goals than SV Darmstadt 98, who have let in 22 so far. This makes the Lilies one of the strongest defensive teams in the league.

FCK has conceded 27 goals, placing them in the upper half of the table. Defensively, Kaiserslautern is also among the more stable teams in the league.

While Kaiserslautern’s defence isn’t quite up to par with the top teams in the league, they excel in several other areas. Even when a striker isn’t scoring, despite their overall high goal tally, their substitutes often step up. No other team has scored more goals from substitutes (9) than Kaiserslautern.

Furthermore, Kaiserslautern are among the league’s strongest teams in the air, both offensively and defensively. They’ve headed the ball into the net seven times, a feat surpassed only by SC Paderborn (10). At the same time, neither goalkeeper Julian Krahl nor his backup Simon Simoni have conceded a headed goal yet.

Darmstadt’s defence should also be wary of their counter-attacking prowess: After winning possession, the Palatinate side transitions at top speed. Torsten Lieberknecht’s team has scored eight goals from counter-attacks.

Speaking of Torsten Lieberknecht: The 52-year-old head coach of 1. FC Kaiserslautern spent a total of three years on the sidelines for the South Hessian club, from 2021 to 2024. In the 2022/23 season, he led the Lilies to promotion to the top flight. In September 2024, the native of the Palatinate region announced his resignation from SV 98 and took over the „Red Devils“ in April 2025.