It's a bitter moment for many fans in the Jahnstadion. While the guest from Heidenheim is currently celebrating promotion to the Bundesliga as champions, the Regensburg team has to say goodbye to the 2nd Bundesliga. Relegation, 3rd league. For the first time since 2017, the Jahn will return to the third division in May 2023. But Jahn is striving with all his might for a direct resurgence. From matchday 10 onwards, the team from Bavaria are in a direct promotion spot and have held this spot for almost the entire season. Until matchday 37.
Because Regensburg only played 1-1 against Viktoria Köln, the in-form Münster team overtook Jahn and thus took second place. Regensburg had to go into relegation, but ultimately fought their way back up against SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The direct re-promotion still worked via the detour of relegation. And SV Darmstadt 98 can now look forward to the duel with Regensburg. Before the clash on Sunday (December 22nd/1:30pm), we’ll take a closer look at the Lilies‘ upcoming opponents.
| Top Arrivals | Top Departures |
| Sebastian Ernst – (Attacking Midfielder, Hannover 96) | Konrad Faber – (FC St. Gallen 1879) |
| Christian Kühlwetter – (Midfielder,1. FC Heidenheim) | Valdrin Mustafa – (Kickers Offenbach) |
| Louis Breunig – (Central Defender, 1. FC Nürnberg) | Noel Eichinger – (1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig) |
| Kai Pröger – (Right Winger, FC Hansa Rostock) | Erik Tallig – (Karriereende) |
First assistant coach, then interim coach and for several weeks he has been able to call himself head coach of SSV Jahn Regensburg. Andreas Patz took over the team after the dismissal of Joe Enochs before the cup game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, which Patz’s newly formed team won 1-0 and thus moved into the DFB Cup round of 16. The first league game under the 41-year-old was also a complete success. Once again in front of their home crowd, the Regensburg team won 1-0 against SV Elversberg and thus gave new hope to the current bottom team in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Review. Starting as a temporary coach at the DFB base in Thuringia, Patz worked his way up step by step. Initially he was an assistant coach for the reserve team and U19 team at Rot-Weiß Erfurt, and in 2017 he ended up as chief analyst for the Hungarian national team. “When I had to analyse Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, it only took me one or two glances to realise what I was allowed to do here,” said the new Regensburg coach with a smile about his time in Hungary. But Patz quickly moved back to the sidelines. He worked as an assistant coach in the Belgian league – first at Royal Mouscron and then at Cercle Brugge, which he also served as interim head coach for a short time. In 2020, the native of Thuringia went back home to FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the U19s and later to the executive chair of the professionals before taking on the role as assistant coach in Regensburg in 2023.
… is the home strength of SSV Jahn Regensburg when they meet SV Darmstadt 98. Eleven of the last 17 home games went to the team from Bavaria. The Lilies were only able to win one of the last five games in the Jahnstadion. In all of their home games, the SSV also scored 38 goals against SV 98 and conceded 20. The bitterest defeat for the Darmstadt team was probably the 2:7 in 2005…
David Raum, Josip Stanisic and Joshua Vagnoman. Eric Hottmann once stepped onto the pitch with these defenders during his time with the German U19 national team. The SSV Jahn Regensburg striker went through the DFB junior national teams from the U16 to the U19. During his A youth season, the now 24-year-old scored five goals in twelve games, while at the same time he played in the VfB Stuttgart youth team.
After his youth at VfB, he went on loan to SG Sonnenhof-Großaspach in the 3rd league, then moved to Türkgücü Munich and Energie Cottbus before moving to Regensburg in the summer of 2023. “The discussions with those responsible were positive from the start, and the trusting and good exchange was ultimately crucial for the change,” said Hottmann about his commitment. And further: “Here in Regensburg I have the optimal conditions to be able to work professionally.” Hottmann has now played 30 times for Jahn, scoring four goals and assisting another goal.
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.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.