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 year is 1993: For the first time in their history, Karlsruher SC have qualified for the UEFA Cup. In the first round, the side from Baden overcomes PSV Eindhoven. Then, in the second round, they face a formidable challenge in FC Valencia—the team leading the Spanish Primera División at the time. What follows goes down in the club’s history as the „Miracle of the Wildpark.“
In the 29th minute, Edgar Schmitt puts KSC ahead following an assist from Manfred Bender. Just five minutes later, Schmitt strikes again with a volley. Karlsruhe dominate the match at will, heading into the break with a commanding 3–0 lead. They show no signs of slowing down after the interval: Valeri Shmarov, Edgar Schmitt, and Slaven Bilić add further goals, sealing a resounding 7–0 rout.
Things look different today. The club from Baden has never faced FC Valencia again since that season. Nevertheless, the „Miracle of the Wildpark“ remains one of the most significant and legendary matches in the history of Karlsruher SC.
The start of the season went anything but according to plan for KSC: they collected just five points from their first seven matches and slipped to 17th place in the table.
| Opposition | Result | Points |
| FC St. Pauli (A) | 2:0 | 0 |
| 1. FC Nürnberg (H) | 0:1 | 0 |
| Energie Cottbus (H) | 0:3 | 0 |
| Hannover 96 (A) | 2:2 | 1 |
| VfL Wolfsburg (H) | 2:5 | 0 |
| Top Scorers | Top Assists |
| Moritz Broschinski – 2 Goals | Marvin Wanitzek – 2 Assists |
| Shio Fukuda – 2 Goals | Marcel Franke – 1 Assist |
| Marvin Wanitzek – 1 Goal | Lilian Egloff – 1 Assist |
| Rafael Pinto Pedrosa – 1 Goal | Louey Ben Farhat – 1 Assist |
Maximilian Senft
Head coach of Karlsruher SC42.195 kilometres—that is the length of a marathon, a distance that has become a trendy athletic challenge for the younger generation. For Karlsruher SC (KSC), however, that is nowhere near enough. KSC ranks second in terms of total distance covered per match; on average, the team from Baden covers approximately 122.3 kilometers per game—a figure that borders on an ultramarathon. And that’s not all: with an average of 679 high-intensity runs per match, KSC also leads the table in this category. For the team from Baden, endurance alone is not enough—they also push the pace.
26 years old. By this age, many footballers have already played for a number of different clubs. Marvin Wanitzek, however, did not make his 2. Bundesliga debut until he was 26. In 2019, he earned promotion with Karlsruher SC, and this „late bloomer“ has since become a mainstay in Germany’s second tier.
His footballing roots lie close to home: Wanitzek took his first steps at FV Ubstadt before moving through the youth ranks at TSG Hoffenheim and FC Astoria Walldorf, eventually joining VfB Stuttgart in 2013. There, he played primarily for the reserve side, though he did make one Bundesliga appearance during the 2015/16 season. It was not until he arrived in Karlsruhe, however, that he truly made his breakthrough.
In 2017, the Bruchsal native moved from VfB Stuttgart II to KSC. What initially appeared to be just another stop in his career evolved into a genuine success story. Wanitzek has worn the Karlsruhe jersey ever since, and for the past three seasons, he has led the team onto the pitch as captain. The coaching staff continues to rely on him and his leadership qualities this season. For the fans, the now 33-year-old has long since become the face of KSC.
Playing in the number ten role, Wanitzek pulls the strings, provides structure to Karlsruhe’s play, distributes the ball, and takes charge of set-pieces. His statistics—13 goals in the 2024/25 season and 15 in the previous campaign—highlight that he is not just a provider, but also a consistent goalscorer.
„Die Lilien“ (Darmstadt) have also felt the impact of Wanitzek’s quality. During KSC’s 2–1 victory in May, he put the hosts ahead with a free-kick, once again demonstrating just how valuable their captain is to the club.
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.
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:
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.