Normally the away team takes the team bus to the stadium - directly to the entrance to the catacombs, from where they only have to walk a few steps to the dressing room. It's just stupid when the bus gets stuck in a traffic jam and can't make any progress... That's what happened last Sunday (September 29th) before Karlsruher SC's second division game at 1. FC Köln. And because nothing worked anymore, the bus doors suddenly opened and the KSC players walked the last few meters to the Rhein-Energie Stadium.
As a result, kick-off was postponed ten minutes later. And the Karlsruhe team didn’t get off to a good start and were already 3-0 behind after just a quarter of an hour. But what followed was an incredible comeback by head coach Christian Eichner’s team. Initially the KSC was still 2:4 behind at the break, but in the end the Karlsruhe team fought for an impressive 4:4. A remarkable comeback from a team that is already one of the top teams in the 2nd Bundesliga this season: Karlsruher SC is undefeated and in third place in the table with 15 points collected. We’ll take a closer look at SV Darmstadt 98’s upcoming opponent before the duel on Friday evening (October 4th/6:30pm).
| Top Arrivals | Departures |
| David Herold (Left-back, Bayern München II) | Lars Stindl (Retired) |
| Luca Pfeiffer (Striker, VfB Stuttgart) | Jerome Gondorf (Retired) |
| Lasse Günther (Left-back, FC Augsburg) | Philip Heise (Dynamo Dresden) |
| Bambase Conte (Left winger, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) | Tim Rossmann (Fortuna Düsseldorf) |
| Robin Heußer (Midfield, Wehen Wiesbaden) | Patrick Drewes (VfL Bochum) |
When it comes to the organisation of the game on Friday, Christian Eichner will probably no longer want to have a say. Last weekend, while traveling by bus to the away game in Cologne, something that wasn’t supposed to happen happened to Karlsruher SC. Due to a traffic jam, the players had to walk together to the Rhein-Energie Stadium, which is why kick-off was postponed by ten minutes. “That was a mistake in the planning, I take responsibility for that,” admitted Eichner at the press conference after the game.
Review. The former full-back has been a Karlsruher through and through since his youth. He started his active professional career there in the U17. He then moved on from the second team up to the professional squad – he has 137 competitive games for Karlsruhe on his CV. In total, Eichner played 139 games in the Bundesliga, which he played for KSC, 1. FC Köln and Hoffenheim. However, due to a meniscus injury, his playing career ended in January 2015. Apparently he couldn’t do it without professional sport. A year later, the Sinsheimer started his career as a coach at Karlsruher SC in the U17 and was promoted to assistant coach for the professionals the following year. He took on the role of head coach on an interim basis for the first time in 2017. In 2020 it was Baden’s permanent solution, which has lasted ever since and promises success.
The showpiece of Karlsruher SC? The Wildpark Stadium. The KSC home ground has been an impregnable fortress to date – three home games, three home wins. The Baden team also impresses with their goal threat. Because 16 goals this season are currently only topped by 1. FC Köln (18). With Budu Zivzivadze, the Karlsruhe team also has the best goalscorer of the current second division season in their squad – the Georgian has scored six goals to date and he currently shares first place in the top scorer list with Moussa Sylla from FC Schalke 04.
The SV Darmstadt 98 defense will have to pay particular attention to one player in the away game in Karlsruhe; Budu Zivzivadze is currently in impressive form. Last year, the striker was able to put the ball in the opponent’s goal twelve times in 31 games. This season there are already seven goals in eight competitive games. The 30-year-old played really well in the opening game against 1.FC Nürnberg. After a 0-2 deficit, the offensive player single-handedly turned the game around. As he says, “of course the hat-trick gave me self-confidence.” He showed that in the following games, scoring the late winning goal against Eintracht Braunschweig and both goals in the clash with FC Schalke 04. At 50 percent of all KSC goals in the current second division season, the attacker was directly involved.
Zivzivadze has now appeared 30 times in the national team jersey for his home country of Georgia and has eight international goals. One of his biggest career highlights was probably the nomination of national coach Willy Sagnol for the 2024 European Championships in Germany. The 1.89 meter tall attacker came on as a substitute in the 85th minute in the opening game against Turkey. He only received his second European Championship appearance later in the tournament, in the surprising round of 16 against eventual European champions Spain.
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.