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.
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:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
