The best offensive in the league travels to the Böllenfalltor. So far this season, 1. FC Köln has stood for one thing in particular: lots of goals. So far, 33 goals have been scored in games with “Effzeh” participation, a record. There are 31 goals in games in which the Lilies take part. So it's quite possible that spectators can expect some hits on Friday evening (06.10/6:30pm). Before the clash, we took a closer look at Köln.
Last season both teams met in the Bundesliga, now they meet in the German second division. So far, the Lilies have won two games against 1. FC Köln, one of them in the last meeting on matchday 30 of the previous season with a 2-0 away win. Now the cards have been reshuffled and two “new” teams are competing. So that you know about the upcoming opponent, here are a few key factors for you in the opponent check.
| Top Scorers | Assists |
| Damion Downs (8 Games/ 4 Goals) | Leart Paqarada (8 Games/ 6 Assists) |
| Timo Hübers (7 Games / 3 Goals) | Tim Lemperle (8 Games/ 4 Assists) |
| Tim Lemperle (8 Games/ 3 Goals) | Linton Maina (8 Games / 4 Assists) |
From the insurance industry to a professional coach, via Austria, England, New York to 1. FC Köln – a career path that might surprise many fans. Gerhard Struber wouldn’t be seen on the visitors‘ sidelines at the Bölle this Friday if it hadn’t been for Austria’s national coach Ralf Rangnick. A test match between SV Kuchl and Salzburg was the decisive moment for his move from insurance to professional coaching. „After the game, Ralf Rangnick invited me to talk. With his enthusiasm and persuasiveness, he suggested that I take the path of becoming a full-time football coach. That was a very brave decision at the time, because I had a really good job with the best prospects,“ reports the now 47 year old.
As he once did in Barnsley, Struber now looks after one of the youngest squads in the league in Köln. The Austrian has been very familiar with dealing with and supporting young players for years. For a long time he shaped the youth academies in Salzburg and coached young talents at the highest level. Struber is best known for his offensive style of play – a style that he successfully demonstrated at the beginning of the season. No team has currently scored more goals in the second division than the “Billy Goats”. In the last home game against Ulm, Struber also showed that he can give the full offensive a certain balance. From a stable order, the “Effzeh” won 2-0 against the promoted team and remained without conceding a goal for the second time this season.
The highlight of 1. FC this season is the outstanding offensive. With 20 goals scored, the Domstadt team has the most goal-hungry attack in the league. Eight different players have already been able to get on the list of goalscorers, the most successful shooter so far is Damion Downs with four goals. A total of five players are among the top 17 of the top scorers and three more are among the ten best scorers in the league. After the KSC, the next demanding challenge awaits the Darmstadt defense line.
…Eric Martel. Hardly any other player covers as many meters on the pitch in the second division as the 22-year-old. He runs an impressive 12.25 kilometers on average in the 90 minutes of a game. He has long since become an indispensable support in the midfield of 1. FC Köln.
The captain of the German U21 has been a permanent part of the squad since 2022. At that time he moved from the East, from Leipzig, to the Rhineland. Martel made his debut in the DFB Cup at the age of 18 under current national coach Julian Nagelsmann. After a loan to Austria Vienna, he finally found his way to 1. FC Köln, where he signed long-term. Even after relegation to the second division, Martel remains committed to the club: „The FC and especially the fans here are something very special. I identify 100 percent with the city and the club. I will give everything for that and I’m happy I am delighted to be able to continue playing for this great club in the future.“
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.