Before SV Darmstadt 98 plays under floodlights in Dresden on Friday evening (27.02/18.30), Florian Kohfeldt spoke at the press conference about the strengths of Dynamo Dresden and the special atmosphere in the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion.
Personnel update: Fabian Nürnberger, Matthias Bader, Bartosz Bialek and Marco Richter (suspended due to yellow cards) are unavailable.
Dynamo is a very difficult opponent who underwent a bit of a revamp during the winter break. We expect only two or three players in the starting eleven who also played against us in the first leg. They’ve definitely added quality. They’re characterised by a courageous style of play. They try to press high up the pitch. They earned a point and kept a clean sheet in Hannover, which is no small feat. They constantly adapt their pressing to the opponent. That’s what makes them special. We’ll see how they approach it against us. We’re also not entirely predictable in what we do.
They have a playful approach from the back, which makes them difficult to press. You have to take a certain amount of risk if you want to win the ball back high up the pitch. This allows them to launch frequent, fast breaks. They have good long-range shooters, play on the counter-attack, and have the option of bringing on reinforcements from the bench. This makes them dangerous. Offensively, they deliver an extremely high number of crosses and have two clear wingers and, in Vermeij, a clear target man. That’s what sets them apart. The fundamental DNA of this team is very courageous.
I don’t know why things are different away from home than at home. We approach it the same way we always do, preparing for the opponent as best we can. We have a very active defensive style, which means we allow quite a few shots from the opposition. But there’s a big difference between the shots we allow and the shots that actually go on target. We work on blocking, for example. It’s important to stay calm in and around the penalty area. When you’re sitting deep, you have to be well-organised in the box, and that’s actually one of our greatest strengths. But we didn’t do that so well against Paderborn or Braunschweig, for example. That’s also one of the keys for the away game in Dresden.
I have absolutely no loss of confidence in Fabi Holland. He put in a good performance in Braunschweig, defended very solidly at home in the cup match against Schalke, who certainly have some strong players on the wings, and also played well in Hannover. There are far more reasons to trust him than to look for the negatives. Thanks to Paul’s good squad planning, we brought in Raoul as an alternative in the winter. We knew he would need some time to get back into shape physically, as he hadn’t played for a while due to the earlier season in MLS. We’ll see how long he can maintain that level. But Fabi is an incredibly important player for us, both on and off the pitch. I sleep very soundly when Fabi plays.
Dresden has a special stadium atmosphere, especially under the floodlights. I have fond memories of our cup match there. For me, Dresden under the floodlights is one of the top five stadiums in Germany. Accordingly, we’re really looking forward to this emotional game. It increases my anticipation even more. The most important thing in football is the emotions and the soul of a team. What awaits us on Friday is pure football romance. I love that; it brings me great joy.
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: