A floodlit evening at Bielefeld's Alm stadium. The date is May 19, 2014: The atmosphere is electric, Arminia Bielefeld the clear favourite – especially after their 3-1 victory in the first leg of the relegation play-off. Darmstadt 98, accordingly, the massive underdog. And yet, on this evening, SV 98 makes both Lilies and football history. After 120 minutes, a spectacular 4-2 scoreline is displayed on the scoreboard. Darmstadt is promoted, Bielefeld is relegated. And a Darmstadt motto becomes legendary: "You have to fight. Nothing is lost yet."
Despite the disappointment, Arminia Bielefeld reacted with remarkable unity. Relegation triggered a wave of support in Bielefeld and the entire region. Within just a few days, the club experienced a huge increase in membership. The sense of community in East Westphalia remained unbroken.
Arminia entered the 2014/15 season with a significantly changed squad. Under coach Norbert Meier, the team played a convincing first half of the season but finished the first half of the season in a non-promotion position. The team continued their strong performance in the second half of the season and climbed to the top of the table. On the penultimate matchday, they secured immediate promotion back to the 2. Bundesliga. A 2-2 draw at home against Jahn Regensburg was enough to seal their return to the second division.
Arminia Bielefeld started the current season as a newly promoted second-division team, having reached the DFB Cup final last season as a third-division side. After ten matchdays in the second division, Arminia sits in a strong ninth place with 13 points. Now, the two teams meet again. May 19, 2014, seems like a long time ago, but it still evokes goosebumps and provides motivation.
We’ve analysed this weekend’s opponent for you in our opponent check.
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Joel Grodowski – 5 Goals | Mael Corboz – 3 Assists |
| Isaiah Young – 2 Goals | Monju Momuluh – 3 Assists |
| Joel Felix – 2 Goals | Joel Grodowski – 2 Assists |
| Noah Sarenren Bazee – 2 Goals | Marvin Mehlem – 2 Assists |
| Tim Handwerker – 2 Goals | Christopher Lannert – 2 Assists |
Michél "Mitch" Kniat
Head coach at Arminia BielefeldIntensity. Bielefeld sets the standard in this category: With 7,732 high-intensity runs, Arminia Bielefeld are unchallenged at the top of the statistics. An impressive testament to the team’s endurance and tireless commitment. Schalke follows closely behind with 7,158, and Kiel with 7,094 – strong figures, but still not quite matching Bielefeld’s intensity. For Darmstadt, this means they must prepare for an intense match.
It’s a Sunday morning in the 2016/17 season, somewhere on a dusty pitch in the Kreisliga A (eighth tier of German football). The lines on the field are barely visible, the goalposts rattle with every shot, and the stands consist of just a few benches along the sidelines. A striker is running onto the pitch – his name is Joel Grodowski. With every step, you can feel his indomitable will; with every shot, his precision. Among most of the players in this league, who simply play for fun, Grodowski immediately stands out. But how does a centre forward from the Kreisliga make it to professional football? And in just a few years, no less?
Joel Grodowski began his football career in the youth academies of Schalke 04, Rot Weiss Ahlen, and VfB Waltrop. In 2017, however, he was still playing in the Kreisliga A for PSV Bork. There he revealed his goal-scoring prowess: In the 2016/17 season, he scored an incredible 53 goals in just 30 games – a number that made him one of the most striking talents in the region in the amateur sector.
His performances did not go unnoticed, and in 2017 Grodowski took the plunge and moved abroad to Bradford City in the English League One, the third tier of German football. Although his playing time was limited, this move marked his transition from amateur to professional football. After a year in England, he returned to Germany and joined Hammer SpVg in the Oberliga Westfalen (fifth tier). There, he confirmed his goalscoring prowess with 15 goals in 28 games and continued his steady progress. In 2019, Grodowski transferred to Preußen Münster. Initially playing in the Regionalliga West (fourth tier), and later in the 3. Liga (third tier), he developed into a key player for the team. His goals were crucial in helping Preußen Münster consistently stay within striking distance of the top of the table.
Present day. Now he plays in the 2nd Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld and, with his five goals this season, has already done a lot for the newly promoted team. Nevertheless, he fondly remembers his time in the Kreisliga (district league): „That time is still very present. I haven’t played there for a while now, but the Kreisliga still holds a special place in my heart. I still really enjoy watching the games. Some of my old friends are still playing for PSV Bork. Every now and then I’ve wondered what would have happened if I had gone through a youth academy. But perhaps it’s precisely my time in the Kreisliga that makes me stand out as a player,“ he said in an interview with the DFB (German Football Association). His extraordinary development from a Kreisliga player to a key performer in professional football shows that talent, combined with perseverance and hard work, can pave the way to professional football even from the lowest leagues.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: