Darmstadt 98 aim to extend their unbeaten run at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. With one of the strongest offences and defences in the league, they intend to continue this winning streak. However, 1. FC Kaiserslautern also possesses a multitude of strengths: the Palatinate side impresses not only with their scoring prowess but also with their flexibility in terms of tactics and personnel. We've compiled the key facts about Kaiserslautern's versatility and other statistics relevant to this match in this report. Here you'll find the top facts for Saturday evening's game.
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.
|
Games |
Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
|
Home |
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17:7 |
|
Away |
7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7:14 |
|
Overall |
14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 24:21 |
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.