Aleksandar Vukotic spoke with the media on Wednesday (August 20th), discussing, among other things, his motivation for extending his contract and the mood within the team. A real highlight is also coming up early in the LOTTO Hessenliga season: SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team will travel away to previously undefeated newly promoted SV Hummetroth. Anyone interested can watch the match via the Darmstädter Echo live stream. You can find out all this and more in our weekly column "Lilien Across the Board."
Aleksandar Vukotić and the Lilies have started the new season with great enthusiasm and a clear goal. „Our start was perfect in terms of results, but there’s still a long way to go until the end of the season. Our approach to every game is to want to win it – and then we’ll see where we end up,“ the 30-year-old explained in a media briefing on Wednesday (August 20th). After successfully advancing in the DFB Cup against VfB Lübeck, the focus is now on the upcoming challenges.
„Against Lübeck, the goal was to reach the next round. I think we played a good game there, but we’ll probably have to perform even better in the next round of the cup,“ said Vukotić. The focus is also already on the next home game. „Hertha BSC hasn’t had a great start to the season, but that doesn’t change their quality. Of course, we’re playing at home and we want to go all out for the win. We’ll be well prepared. Fabian Reese is one of the best players in the league, but he can’t do everything alone. Hertha has a lot of good players – we’re ready.“
I extended my contract here because my family and I are very happy here.
His move to Darmstadt was a conscious decision for Vukotić, as was the contract extension: „I signed the contract here because both I and my family are very happy. Our team and the coaching staff are a really good group, the atmosphere is very family-like – you can see that on the pitch, too. That’s one of the most important reasons for success.“
The 30-year-old also has personal ambitions: „I hope that I score more goals this season than last. I would be very happy with five goals. But to be honest, that’s not the most important thing – the main thing is that we win.“ Vukotić is also flexible when it comes to tactics: „We can play well with either a back three or a back four. The system will always adapt to the opponent. But in the end, the system is not important – it’s just a question of whether we win or lose.“ In a back three, he prefers to play centrally, while in a back four he usually plays on the left.
On Wednesday (August 20th, 7pm), a real highlight will take place early in the season in the LOTTO Hessenliga: SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team, which has won two of its first three matches, will face ambitious newly promoted SV Hummetroth, who have won all of their matches so far without conceding a goal. The match will be broadcast live for all plus subscribers of the Darmstädter Echo.
Who has the right nose?
All SV Darmstadt 98 members can also participate in the new Lilien fan tip for the home game against Hertha BSC – and secure the chance to win a genuine match-worn jersey for every home game. Simply log in to the prediction page with your personal WirLilien login and start guessing!
Who knows their Lilien best?
With the SV98 fan tip, you can not only predict the exact score before every home game, but also the Lilien’s goalscorers. With a little luck, a very special souvenir awaits you at the end: a worn jersey from the game.
It’s already proven that participating is worthwhile: The first lucky winner has already picked up his match-worn jersey. SV Darmstadt 98 warmly congratulates Markus May on his correct prediction for the home game against VfL Bochum!
SV Darmstadt 98’s U19 team won the first round of the DFB-Pokal in a thriller. On Saturday (August 16th), coach Patrick Kurt’s team won 2-1 after extra time away at Berliner AK. The match remained goalless for a long time during normal time. Both teams gave it their all, but clear-cut chances were scarce. It wasn’t until extra time that the game really picked up momentum: In the 108th minute, the hosts took the lead and briefly put the Lilies on the back foot. But the response wasn’t long in coming. Just six minutes later, Laroussi equalised at 1-1 and brought his team back into the game.
Everything pointed to a penalty shootout, but the final stages of extra time proved to be a real thrill. Initially, the Lilies weakened themselves with a second yellow card and a red card, before Rohm scored the celebrated winner in the third minute of stoppage time. With the win, the U19s advance to the second round of the U19 DFB Cup. Their next match is scheduled for Wednesday (August 20th, 6pm), when the Lilies will face 1. FC Saarbrücken in the DFB Youth League.
The jump from the Kreisliga C to the Kreisliga B was clearly noticeable for the SV Darmstadt 98 fan base: They suffered their third defeat of the season against Darmstadt’s TSG II. The „second second team“ actually got off to a dream start in the 5-3 away defeat: A double strike from Muth (10th minute) and Schreiber (14th minute) seemingly set the stage for success early on. But the home side hit back immediately and reduced the deficit just a minute later (15th minute). Shortly before halftime, TSG even equalised with a penalty.
After the break, Emmerich gave the Lilies the lead again in the 50th minute. However, TSG then turned the game around: With two quick goals (71st, 74th minute), the hosts made it 4-3. The final knockout came in the 86th minute, with the final scoreline being 5-3.
After a successful cup opening match against VfB Lübeck, SV Darmstadt 98 has qualified for the second round of the DFB-Pokal. These matches will be played on Tuesday (October 28th) and Wednesday (October 29th). The Lilies‘ opponent will be decided on Sunday (August 31st at 7pm) at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The German public broadcaster Das Erste will broadcast the draw live as part of the Sportschau program. The show will be hosted by Alex Schlüter, with former referee Dr. Felix Brych serving as the draw official.
| Bundesliga | 2. Bundesliga | 3. Liga | Regionalliga |
| Bayer 04 Leverkusen | SV Darmstadt 98 | Energie Cottbus | FV Illertissen |
| 1. FC Union Berlin | 1. FC Magdeburg | ||
| Hamburger SV | Arminia Bielefeld | ||
| 1. FC Heidenheim | VfL Bochum | ||
| TSG Hoffenheim | SC Paderborn | ||
| Eintracht Frankfurt | SpVgg Greuther Fürth | ||
| Leipzig | Karlsruher SC | ||
| FC St. Pauli | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | ||
| VfL Wolfsburg | FC Schalke 04 | ||
| SC Freiburg | SV Elversberg | ||
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | Holstein Kiel | ||
| 1. FC Köln | Hertha BSC | ||
| FC Augsburg | Fortuna Düsseldorf | ||
| 1. FSV Mainz 05 | |||
| Borussia Dortmund |
The last two places will be played out on Tuesday (26.08/20.45) between Eintracht Braunschweig and VFB Stuttgart and on Wednesday (27.08/20.45) between SV Wehen Wiesbaden and Bayern Munich.
As usual, there will be two pools:
First, teams are drawn alternately from both pots, starting with Pot 1. The teams from Pot 1 automatically enjoy home advantage. Once the so-called „amateur pot“ is empty, the first-drawn team in a pairing plays at home.
Central defender Patric Pfeiffer celebrates his first birthday this week on Wednesday (August 20th). After playing for the Lilies from 2019 to 2023, he rejoined the South Hesse club from FC Augsburg this summer. In his first four years at SV 98, Pfeiffer made 85 appearances for the club. In the 2022/23 season, he was a key starter and a key player in SV 98’s promotion to the Bundesliga, contributing four goals to the Lilies‘ great success. The defender then joined FC Augsburg, for whom he made twelve competitive appearances. Last season, Pfeiffer was loaned out twice: first to top Swiss club BSC Young Boys, and then to 1. FC Magdeburg from February onwards. We are delighted to have you back with us and wish you all the best for your 26th birthday!
Next Sunday (August 24th), Uwe Kuhl will celebrate his 64th birthday. He is a former Lilien professional and the current, appointed representative of the SV Darmstadt 98 NLZ (National League) board. Before moving into the administrative side, Kuhl himself wore the SVD jersey for many seasons. During his playing career, he played 214 games as a centre forward for the Blue-Whites, scoring a total of 75 goals, which put him in second place on SV 98’s all-time goalscorer list. Today, Kuhl only plays for the Lilien’s traditional team. We warmly congratulate our long-time board member on his special day and wish him all the best!
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.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.
