What do FC Bayern Munich, 1. FC Nürnberg, and 1860 Munich have in common? At first glance, the answer is quite simple: All three teams hail from the state of Bavaria. But upon closer inspection, there's another interesting similarity: They're all the current "dinosaurs" of German professional football—that is, the teams that have played in their respective leagues the longest without interruption. The Franconians have been in the 2. Bundesliga since 2019, sharing second-division dinosaur status with Karlsruher SC and Hannover 96. On Friday (08/08/6:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 travels to Nürnberg in Franconia. Reason enough to take a closer look at the club from the Valznerweiher lake.
| Top Signings | Top Departures |
| Luka Lochoshvili (from Cremonese, Defender) | Jens Castrop (to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Midfielder) |
| Mickaël Biron (from RWDM Brussels, Striker) | Oliver Villadsen (to Bröndby IF, Defender) |
| Semir Telalovic (from SSV Ulm 1846, Striker) | Christoph Daferner (to Dynamo Dresden, Striker) |
| Justin von der Hitz (from 1. FC Köln U19, Midfielder) | Stefanos Tzimas (End of Loan to Brighton, Striker) |
| Kristian Mandic (from Eintracht Frankfurt U19, Defender) | Jannes Horn (to Rapid Wien, Defender) |
Miroslav Klose
Head coach of 1. FC NürnbergInteresting Fact: During his time as a center forward, Klose scored many important goals. He lived up to his reputation as a centre forward: In an interview with „bundesliga.com,“ he revealed that of his approximately 300 goals, only two were scored from outside the box.
„He who has the youth, has the future.“ This is a famous quote by Napoleon Bonaparte. If this quote were to hold true, the Franconians would certainly have a bright future ahead of them: With an average age of 22.74 years, Nürnberg is the youngest team in the league. Recent examples such as Can Uzun, Nathaniel Brown, and most recently Stefanos Tzimas demonstrate how well players can develop in Franconia. Among the current „young guns“ are names like Rafael Lubach (20), Tim Janisch (19), and Berkay Yilmaz (20), who will surely try to shake up the 2. Bundesliga.
In the beginning there was the ball. If Robin Knoche were to write his biography one day, it could begin with precisely this sentence – not because it’s particularly striking, but because it reveals a surprising amount about him. For the 33-year-old, football isn’t just a profession. The fact that „ball“ was the first word Knoche uttered as a baby is therefore no coincidence, but almost a kind of prophecy.
This early connection to the game seems to have had a lasting impact on him. His CV now includes 13 years of professional football. And that experience is characterised by a rare quality: consistency. While other players visit numerous clubs and countries during their careers, Knoche has so far played for exactly three clubs and countries: VfL Wolfsburg (2012 to 2020), Union Berlin (2020 to 2024), and 1. FC Nürnberg (since 2024). In Wolfsburg, he also progressed through all the youth teams and made a name for himself in German football. In Berlin, he became a pillar of a team that achieved historic success with its first and, so far, only Champions League appearance. In Nürnberg, he now wears the captain’s armband.
What sets him apart is a talent he revealed on Sky’s „My Story“: memorising. Tactical processes, running routes, opponent profiles – Knoche absorbs them like other Netflix series. It’s no wonder, then, that he’s logged a total of 450 minutes of Champions League action with Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg. He’s also made 29 Europa League and six Conference League appearances. His international experience is more than impressive for a second-division player. Off the pitch, he knows exactly what he’s good at and what others can do better. For example, when it comes to home furnishings. During his time at Union Berlin, he left the design of their home to his wife. „She simply has a better eye,“ he says.
Despite his stops and successes, one thing remains constant: his connection to his hometown. Wolfsburg and his birthplace, Braunschweig, are more than just geographical coordinates. They seem to be his anchors. If Knoche could write a dream script for his career – as he reveals to Sky – it would end with him returning to where his career began: at VfL Wolfsburg.
After 13 unbeaten second-division matches, SV Darmstadt 98 suffered their first defeat this Friday evening. Three unfortunate minutes just before halftime, during which Patric Pfeiffer was sent off and Vincent Vermeij scored twice, paved the way for Dresden's victory. After the match, the focus was primarily on the differing assessments of two very similar incidents by the refereeing team – incidents which both coaches subsequently evaluated identically.
For the first time since October, Darmstadt 98 finished a league match without any points: SV 98 lost 3-1 (2-0) to SG Dynamo Dresden. After a controversial red card against Patric Pfeiffer (42nd minute), the home side scored two goals in first-half stoppage time to secure the victory.
Under the floodlights at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadium. On Friday evening (February 27th/6:30pm), Darmstadt 98 will play away against Dynamo Dresden. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting eleven. Raoul Petretta makes his first start, replacing Fabian Holland. Luca Marseiler starts in place of the suspended Marco Richter, and Hiroki Akiyama replaces Fraser Hornby, who is sidelined with a thigh injury. Fabian Nürnberger, Matthias Bader, and Bartosz Bialek remain unavailable due to injury.
A floodlit match at the Rudolf-Haribig-Stadion is always something special. Darmstadt 98 are aiming to take three points back to southern Hesse this Friday evening (February 27th). Kick-off is at 6:30pm. All the important information about the 24th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga is clearly summarised for you in our "Matchday Guide".
Darmstadt 98 aim to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games in Friday evening's match against Dynamo Dresden. While Darmstadt's potent attack has resulted in a respectable goal tally, they are wary at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. The Saxons have been on an upward trend since the winter break and will have a vociferous home crowd behind them. We've compiled all the facts and figures surrounding this clash in this report. Here you'll find the key facts for tomorrow's match.
Darmstadt and Dresden are 598 kilometres apart. On Friday evening (February 27th, 6:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will travel to the Saxon capital for the 24th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga. The next away game will take place under the floodlights at the historic Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. You can find all relevant fan information here.
Before SV Darmstadt 98 plays under floodlights in Dresden on Friday evening (27.02/18.30), Florian Kohfeldt spoke at the press conference about the strengths of Dynamo Dresden and the special atmosphere in the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion.
Raoul Petretta joined SV Darmstadt 98 in the winter and already feels very much at home. He talks about his arrival and his goals. Besides their sporting focus, the Lilies are also committed to sustainability: On March 15, 2026, over 3,500 trees will be planted as part of the fifth "In the Sign of the Lily" tree-planting campaign. In our "Lilies Across the Board" section, we provide you with the most important news from SV Darmstadt 98 every week.
Numerous Dynamo Dresden fans flock to the stadium on home match days. But one day, they came for a single reason: What should their stadium be called in the future? Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in front of the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, ready to cast their votes. In cooperation with regional partners, Dynamo Dresden's management took the unusual step of letting the club's supporters decide for themselves.
WirLilien – Together for nature conservation! Together with our partner Krombacher, we will once again plant more than 3,500 trees on Sunday (March 15th) – under the banner of the Lily. You can still register for the event at short notice.
On Friday (February 27th, 7:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team begins the second phase of their Hessenliga season. With 23 points after 20 matchdays, the Lilies are currently in 14th place. Following intensive weeks of winter training, the team aims to start the upcoming challenges with renewed energy and secure crucial points.
A fast-paced, thrilling exchange between SV Darmstadt 98 and Fortuna Düsseldorf reached its ecstatic climax in the 88th minute. Thanks to Matej Maglica's header, Darmstadt secured a 2-1 victory in a wild battle that resembled a 12-round boxing match, with both sides neglecting their defences and constantly searching for the next hook or punch. A day later, sv98.de looks back on what was probably the most exciting home game of the season so far for the South Hessian side.