The Lilies will host Hamburger SV at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor next Saturday (May 3rd, 1pm) in the 32nd matchday of the second division. Florian Kohfeldt spoke about this match at the press conference on Friday (May 2nd). We’ve summarised the key points for you.
Personnel update: Fabian Holland, Paul Will, Christoph Zimmermann, as well as Othmane El Idrissi, Alexander Brunst, and Meldin Dreskovic are unavailable. Oscar Vilhelmsson is sidelined due to a thigh problem. Matthias Bader participated in some team training this week, but is not yet available for the season. Merveille Papela has served his suspension and is available again.
With our first match point last week in Münster, we finally put the relegation issue to rest. Now we’re really looking forward to a great home atmosphere at the Bölle. It’s a very special game, and that’s how we want to perform. The team is also really excited about this match. I’m sure we’ll be able to make our mark and implement the style of play that has made us strong for months. We’ve won four home games in a row here at the Bölle. We want to go into this home game with the confidence we’ve gained from our last few games. I’m really looking forward to a football festival at the Bölle on Saturday.
Hamburger SV possesses absolutely top-class individual talent in every position – from goalkeeper to center forward. In attacking one-on-one situations, with Dompé and Sahiti, they have by far the best wingers in the 2. Bundesliga – that’s even top-flight quality. HSV has had a very stable second half of the season for a long time, picking up good points. They have a clear idea of how they want to earn points. The team tries to press high. Especially in the center, they have very intelligent players both with and without the ball. A lot is at stake for HSV in the last three games, so I expect a high-energy Hamburg team, especially at the beginning. Our task will be to slow down this initial onslaught and then push through our strategies as the game progresses.
Sporting director Paul Fernie summed it up perfectly: This season had all the ingredients for a worst-case scenario. In the end, we averted this very confidently. We took a short breather after the draw in Münster. But it was nothing more than a short breather. You could already tell in the locker room after the game that the lads weren’t happy with their performance in Münster. So there’s no reason to artificially build up the tension, because the tension is fully there. We still have three attractive games ahead of us, which have such great motivation. And we want to win all three. The team has trained with focus, is excited about the games, and will give their all. Moreover, last season and phases of this season weren’t the best for our fans. We’ve already given a lot back. But we want to continue to have great experiences with our fans. And of course, you’re more likely to have those after victories.
Tobi will also be in the squad on Saturday and in the two following games. If he plays, it will be no surprise. He definitely has the ability to be important in the final games. I’ve known Tobi for ages. We’ve kept in touch since our time together in Bremen. Tobi is an absolute club legend. He scored many important and decisive goals and was also a very influential figure in Darmstadt. We had many good discussions over a long period of time. Tobi is a very ambitious athlete and mastered the second half of the season, in which he didn’t play that much, with style. I take all my hats off to him. Especially during a difficult phase, he was always there for the team, both in the dressing room and for us as the coaching staff. I have the utmost respect for that. I’ll probably shed a tear or two when he plays his last game for the Lilies against Regensburg. He is an outstanding player and an outstanding character.
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.