In the world of football, a yo-yo team is a team that oscillates between two leagues – too good for one league, but not quite at the level of the next higher one. The result is usually many promotions and many relegations. But SV Elversberg is currently redefining the term. For several years now, the yo-yo has been taking SVE almost exclusively upwards.
At the beginning of this decade, the team from Saarland was still playing in the Regionalliga Südwest (fourth tier), until their championship win there in 2021 paved the way for promotion to the third division. However, the 3. Liga proved to be just a brief stopover. In their very first season back, SV Elversberg also won the title there and immediately moved on to the next level. Currently, Elversberg’s yo-yoing has taken them to the second-highest German league – and they’ve been there for three seasons now. However, the trend in recent years has shown that they could still be promoted to the next division.
With a third-place finish last season, Elversberg qualified for the relegation play-offs, but their progress stalled against Heidenheim, and SVE remained in the 2. Bundesliga. Elversberg currently finds itself in another relegation play-off spot, but only five points ahead of fifth-placed SV Darmstadt 98. We’ll take a closer look at Darmstadt’s opponent.
Identical to their final matchday of the previous season, Elversberg sits in third place with 55 points, currently occupying the relegation playoff spot. They have secured seven out of a possible 15 points in their last five matches. The game at the Bölle stadium marks the Saarland team’s third encounter in the second half of the season against a top-five opponent. Having only managed a single point against Hannover and Schalke, they will undoubtedly be even more eager for a win under the floodlights on Saturday.
| Opposition | Result | Points |
| Karlsruher SC (H) | 3:0 | 3 |
| FC Schalke 04 (H) | 1:2 | 0 |
| Hannover 96 (A) | 1:1 | 1 |
| Arminia Bielefeld (H) | 3:1 | 3 |
| SpVgg Greuther Fürth (A) | 0:2 | 0 |
| Top Scorer | Top Assists |
| Lukas Petkov – 10 Goals | Tom Zimmerschied – 7 Assists |
| Bambase Conte – 3 Goals | Lasse Günther – 6 Assists |
| David Mokwa – 3 Goals | Lukas Petkov – 5 Assists |
| Frederik Schmahl – 3 Goals | Bambase Conte – 5 Assists |
| Luca Schnellbacher – 3 Goals | Luca Schnellbacher – 3 Assists |
Vincent Wagner
Head coach of SV ElversbergWhen thinking about Elversberg’s football in recent years and this season, their offensive power and playing ability immediately come to mind. However, what might sometimes be overlooked is Elversberg’s strength off the ball. Virtually no other club in the league boasts the best tackle success rate in the competition (51 percent). But that’s not all: with the fewest fouls, „ELV“ is also the fairest team in the league – a testament to their skill, discipline, and mastery of challenges.
They signed him in the dead of winter, but he’s since warmed up. Still under contract with HSV, Immanuel Pherai is currently on loan at SV Elversberg – and he’s performing well, proving to be a real asset to the team. To get more playing time, the Dutchman moved to Saarland at the beginning of February. And he’s certainly getting that playing time now.
Pherai is a key playmaker in attacking midfield, and therefore also responsible for goals. In the past, however, this hasn’t always been the case. With a brace against Karlsruhe recently, he not only got on the scoresheet but also ended his personal goal drought. Before that, he hadn’t scored since January 2024! That spell is now broken. In his last three games, he’s been directly involved in three goals. His contributions have also led to some impressive statistics: in the German second division, he now has 14 goals, 14 assists – and (fun fact) 14 yellow cards.
With HSV, he’s already proven he knows how to achieve promotion. Whether his experience will also benefit his teammates in the Elversberg jersey will be revealed at the end of the season. On Saturday evening (April 25th), he travels with SVE to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. And he has a special motivation: Pherai will be celebrating his 25th birthday under the floodlights. However, he won’t be getting any gifts in this top match…
SV 98 extends its warmest congratulations to its long-standing president, Rüdiger Fritsch, on his 65th birthday. Fritsch served on the "Lilien" executive board for a total of 17 years—including 13 years as club president—up until October 2025.
Leon Klassen will continue to wear the Grazer AK jersey. SV 98 and the Austrian first division club have agreed on a permanent transfer for the 26-year-old. Klassen had already been on loan to Graz for the past six months.
As part of the social campaign "Under the Sign of the Lily," SV Darmstadt 98 and its premium partner Merck are focusing on the mental health of young people. The goal of both partners is to raise awareness among young people about this issue, to better understand stress factors, and to develop individual strategies for everyday life.
There's a lot going on at SV Darmstadt 98, both on and off the pitch: New signing Noah Weißhaupt talks about his move to Darmstadt, the second friendly match against VfR Fehlheim is coming up, and the children's play day at the Bölle stadium is just around the corner. You'll also find out everything about season ticket sales, the Darmstadt pop-up store, and the social initiatives surrounding the German Red Cross blood drive and a fundraising appeal. In "Lilies Across the Board," we bring you all the latest news from the world of SV Darmstadt 98.
The Herzenslilien (Heart Lilies) were awarded the Play Fair Prize of the German Olympic Society (DOG) Darmstadt on July 2, 2026, at the Darmstadt Stadium. The prize honours exemplary gestures in youth and grassroots sports, as well as projects that embody social commitment in a special way.
Before SV Darmstadt 98 officially kicks off the 2026/27 second division season, a very special day awaits all Lilies fans at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. As a final dress rehearsal before the start of the competitive season, the Lilies will host the traditional English club Portsmouth FC on Saturday (August 1st) at 2pm. But there will be plenty to see and do beyond the pitch: Around the friendly match, the Lilies will celebrate the official opening of the 2026/27 season together with their supporters.
The Bundesliga finalised the exact times for the first two matchdays on Tuesday (July 7th). Darmstadt's home game against Holstein Kiel on Matchday 1 will take place on Saturday (August 8th) at 1pm. This will be followed by their away game against SG Dynamo Dresden on Sunday (August 16th) at 1:30pm.
Join the Lilies on their journey through the stadiums of Germany! All Lilies fans (and fan groups) can now apply for an away season ticket (AWDK). With the AWDK, you are guaranteed a standing ticket for every Lilies away match, which will be reserved for you – that includes all league matches, DFB Cup games, and any potential relegation play-off matches of the 2026/27 season.
SV Darmstadt 98 decisively won their first pre-season friendly, defeating the district league side SG Arheilgen 12-0 (4-0).
Paul Will will no longer play for SV 98. The midfielder is moving to SpVgg Greuther Fürth, the club where the 27-year-old already played on loan during the second half of the previous season. Both clubs have agreed on a permanent transfer.
Throughout its eventful history, SV Darmstadt 98 has gone through many different eras. Yet, the Lily has been a constant companion throughout. It is the symbol that has united the club for generations. The home jersey for the 2026/27 season is therefore a tribute to the Lily—a mark of tradition, yet also an emblem of the current era.
