Off to the north! But this time, SV Darmstadt 98's DFB Cup kickoff won't be in Hamburg against Teutonia Ottensen like last year. No, the Lilies will face VfB Lübeck in the first round. Kick-off is next Saturday (August 16th) at 6:00pm at the Lohmühle Stadium. There's still time to take a closer look at SV 98's cup opponent. Who is the head coach? How many times has VFB Lübeck actually made it to the DFB Cup? And how has VfB Lübeck started the current season?
VfB Lübeck has been playing in the Regionalliga Nord for two years now. Three matchdays have been completed in the current season, but the Lohmühle team doesn’t seem to have fully settled into the league routine yet. After a successful start with a 2-0 home win against Bremer SV, a 3-1 defeat at SV Meppen followed. On the third matchday, they suffered a decisive 4-0 home defeat against VfB Oldenburg. This means Lübeck has three points so far.
Antonio Verinac is the name of the centre forward for VfB Lübeck. If anyone scores for the team from Schleswig-Holstein, it’s probably him. The 20-year-old has already found the net twice in his three Regionalliga matches so far. The striker, who is over 1.90 meters tall, played the full 90 minutes in all three games.
Verinac has been under contract with VfB Lübeck since this summer and is expected to continue his goal-scoring streak for the northern German club. However, the far north is no unfamiliar territory for the German-Croatian. Trained at FC St. Pauli, Werder Bremen, and VfB Lübeck, Verinac began his career in men’s football at Lok Leipzig. After spells at SSV Jeddeloh II and the U21 team of 1. FC Köln, he enjoyed a remarkable season with ETSV Hamburg in the Hamburg Oberliga, scoring 25 goals in 29 matches. This talent didn’t go unnoticed for long. This summer, he finally returned to Lohmühle, where he intends to continue his scoring streak.
Name: Guerino Capretti
Head coach of VfB Lübeck
Side note: In April of this year, Capretti and his assistant coach Pierre Becken extended their contracts with VfB Lübeck for another two years, until at least the summer of 2027. The head coach himself said: „I’m looking forward to continuing our collaboration. The first step has been taken, and I’ve realised what this club is capable of. That’s one of the reasons why I’m extremely confident about continuing my career at VfB Lübeck.“
VfB Lübeck looks back on a long football tradition and numerous regional successes. The club has played a total of 39 DFB-Pokal matches to date. The first match took place in the 1954/55 season, when they achieved a 2-1 away victory against Spandauer SV in front of 20,000 spectators.
VfB has won the Schleswig-Holstein State Cup seven times – in 2025, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2015, and 2012. The most recent victory dates back to May 24, 2025, when Lübeck beat Kaltenkirchen 2-1 in the final, thus securing their place in the DFB-Pokal again.
The northern German club’s most successful DFB-Pokal season, however, dates back some time: In the 2003/04 season – then still a second-division side – VfB marched all the way to the semifinals. There, the dream of reaching the final in Berlin ended in extra time with a 3-2 defeat against Werder Bremen, the eventual cup winners.
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.
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 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: