The year is 1926. Hertha BSC, the third-oldest professional club in Germany, is in the final of the German championship against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The final score is 1-4 for Berlin. A year later, they have another chance, this time against 1. FC Nürnberg, but again it is not enough. The Old Lady loses 2-0. In 1928, Hertha BSC is back in the final, this time against Hamburger SV. It is a match on even terms, but they lose 2-3. And even on their fourth attempt, in 1929, the title remains out of reach when SpVgg Greuther Fürth once again stumbles, defeating the Berliners 3-2. But this story is not just about four lost finals in a row. Above all, it tells of how Hertha BSC defied all setbacks at its fifth attempt, reaching the final again and triumphing 5-4 against Holstein Kiel in sweltering heat in front of 40,000 spectators in Düsseldorf. The long-awaited championship title was finally brought to Berlin—a moment etched in the memory of the club and its supporters. On Sunday (August 24th at 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 host the Old Lady, and we'll introduce you to the club in more detail.
This episode alone clearly demonstrates the extent to which Hertha BSC is characterised by its ups and downs. After a period of turmoil and existential challenges, the Old Lady was forced to embark on the bitter journey to the second Bundesliga in May 2023 after ten years of top-flight relegation. Now, with new leadership, clear values, and a sustainable strategy, the club is attempting to rebuild its past successes and assert its place in German football.
| Top Arrivals | Top Departures |
| Dawid Kownacki (from Werder Bremen, Forward) | Ibrahim Maza (to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Midfielder) |
| Paul Seguin (from FC Schalke 04, Midfielder) | Derry Scherhant (to SC Freiburg, Winger) |
| Niklas Kolbe (from SSV Ulm, Defender) | Bradley Ibrahim (to Plymouth Argyle, Midfielder) |
| Maurice Krattenmacher (Loan from FC Bayern München, Midfielder) | Jonjoe Kenny (to PAOK Saloniki, Defender) |
| Leon Jensen (from Karlsruher SC, Mittelfeld) | Palkó Dárdai (to Puskás AFC, Winger) |
Stefan Leitl
Head coach of Hertha BSCIf one attributes some significance to the first two matchdays, one thing in particular stands out about Hertha Berlin: They have the ball – and let their opponents run. With an average of 54 percent possession, the Berlin side currently have the third-best possession percentage in the league. Only Preußen Münster (56 percent) and Dynamo Dresden (59 percent) have more possession.
Incense sticks fill the apartment with a lightly burnt scent, while a singing bowl emits vibrating and moving tones. A spiked mat underfoot improves circulation. This unusual program is complemented by exercises with a samurai sword, intended to strengthen coordination and self-confidence.
What sounds like a shamanic ritual is actually part of Michael Cuisance’s matchday preparation – as reported by BILD in October 2024. This alone shows that Cuisance is a footballer willing to try anything to achieve success. And the work with his mental coach, Benjamin Berg, is apparently paying off. „I notice that I’m relaxed and my head is clear,“ he explained.
His sporting career also testifies to his great ambition. Discovered at Borussia Mönchengladbach, he moved to the mighty FC Bayern Munich at the age of 20. But as he himself admitted in retrospect, the move came too soon: „I was very young. When you have a contract with Bayern at 18 or 19, it’s hard to stay focused. Sometimes I thought: I’m playing for Bayern, now I can do less.“ As his time there drew to a close, he was loaned to Olympique Marseille, where he faced a lot of criticism: „I experienced difficult things that would have caused some people to give up, like my year in Marseille,“ Cuisance told the portal transfermarkt.de.
After several stops in Italy, he finally found his way to VfL Osnabrück. There, his career took off again, and Cuisance emphasised that he had rediscovered his love of football. In the summer of 2024, he moved to Hertha BSC – and now he seems to have settled there. In the 2024/25 season, he became a key player, contributing six goals and seven assists in 32 second division games.
„Micka possesses exceptional qualities on the ball and has already given our fans a great deal of pleasure with his style of play and creativity. Furthermore, he fully identifies with the club and the city,“ said sporting director Benjamin Weber upon Cuisance’s contract extension in May 2025. Hertha fans are certainly delighted that Cuisance continues to enchant fans with his football. Like a true shaman.
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.