This weekend, it's not just the SV Darmstadt 98 pros who are back in action; the U21 team also kicks off its LOTTO Hessenliga campaign on Saturday (August 2nd at 3pm). Before the kickoff, we'll be joined by Björn Müller (Sporting Director of the Youth Development Center) and head coach Daniel Petrowsky to discuss the team's importance for SV 98's youth development, their goals, and the squad.
SV 98’s U21 team can look back on a successful debut season in the LOTTO Hessenliga. With a strong sixth-place finish, the young Lilies narrowly missed out on a place in the promotion round for the Regionalliga. The upcoming season, with 18 teams, should once again provide plenty of entertainment and excitement.
Our goal is to prepare players holistically for the demands of modern professional football – the U21 team is a crucial building block in this process.
After a successful debut season, the SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team is entering its second season in the Hessenliga. The focus remains the same as in the previous season: the continuous development of young talent will remain the central focus. Head coach Daniel Petrowsky emphasises: „We once again have a very young team with players who could still play in the U19s. We want to introduce them to the senior level as quickly as possible.“
Björn Müller, sporting director of the youth performance center, also clearly places the U21 team in the club’s training program. „If we succeed in bringing players into the next age group early on, or into the senior level with a view to the future – ideally into the senior squad – then we will have fulfilled part of our mission.“
The U21 team thus forms an important bridge between youth and professional football.
The team underwent major changes over the summer. Only a small core of players from the previous year remained. Some players, like Tim Arnold and Max Pfister, made the jump to the first team. Others sought new challenges in higher leagues. Petrowsky speaks of a „completely new beginning,“ but also sees this as a great opportunity. „There are new characters and types of players. Forming a successful unit out of them is a challenge, but also an exciting task.“
Müller also emphasises the special dynamic of the changes. The team now consists of players from different backgrounds. The goal is to build a strong team culture and develop each individual player individually. That this can be achieved was already evident during the preseason. „Both training camps – the U19 and U21 – were very positive. The teams worked with high intensity and showed the will to grow together as a group,“ Müller said.
Goalkeepers: Til Rohde, Emil Hagemann, Mauritius Schönig.
Defenders: Aziz Alagi, Jonas Buchberger, Burak Karakaya, Bastian Görtler, Kelvin Kunstmann, Marcello Maier.
Midfielders: Imad Jaadar, Tom Steineck, Markus Ballmert, Luis Klappich, Kian Rebner, Milian Herbst
Forwards: Smail Kadrijaj, Luigi Mignano, Mika Schlosser, Loan Schnerring
Daniel Petrowsky (Manager), Sebastian Schmitt (Assistant Manager)
During their summer preseason, the Lilies completed an intensive training program, including friendly matches and a training camp. Particular emphasis was placed on athletic fundamentals, tactical discipline, and the development of playful solutions. Petrowsky describes the progress as clearly visible. „The initial tests revealed some weaknesses that we have been working on. A positive trend is evident.“
The integration of the U19 players is going well, as they are already familiar with the club’s philosophy. New recruits from outside the team have also been successfully integrated. Müller praises the commitment and professionalism of both groups. „Many players are hungry to take the next step. You can see that on the pitch.“
The U21s aim to focus on a healthy mix of control and flexibility. This means possession, clear forward play, but also compactness and defensive stability. „We want to play a style of football that contributes to development. Last year, we had the second-best defence in the league – that was our foundation,“ says Petrowsky. At the same time, it’s important to react to the different playing styles of our opponents, while at the same time having solutions in all situations and implementing Darmstadt’s style of play. „Some will attack us high, others will play deep. We have to be flexible, but maintain our identity.“
Close coordination with the professional team remains a key element. Regular exchanges with head coach Florian Kohfeldt and U19 coach Patrick Kurt take place. Petrowsky sees this as a significant added value. „When it comes to promoting players and acting in the interests of their development, trust between the coaching staff is crucial.“ Müller adds that the players‘ physical preparation is now at a very high level. The goal is to produce players who can also compete physically with the professional team.
The start of the new Hessenliga season is just around the corner. The first few matches will be a true test of the team’s performance. Petrowsky expects a strong league with ambitious newcomers and opponents like Eintracht Frankfurt II and FC Gießen. „I expect that anyone can beat anyone,“ says the coach. Müller also sees the first few games as an important test. „The first five or six matches will show us where we stand.“
With a newly formed team, clear goals, and a well-thought-out training program, SV 98’s U21 team is starting the new season. The anticipation is great, as are the challenges. For Daniel Petrowsky and his team, it’s all about building on last year’s successes – especially in preparing young players for higher responsibilities.
| Matchday | Date | Kick Off | Match |
| 1 | Saturday, 02.08.2025 | 3pm | Türk Gücü Friedberg – SV 98 |
| 2 | Saturday, 09.08.2025 | 3pm | SV 98 – CSC 03 Kassel |
| 3 | Saturday, 16.08.2025 | 3pm | SV 98 – SV Rot-Weiss Walldorf |
| 4 | Wednesday, 20.08.2025 | 7pm | SV Hummetroth – SV 98 |
| 5 | Saturday, 23.08.2025 | 2pm | FC Giessen – SV 98 |
We wish our U21 team much success in the upcoming Hessenliga season!
After 13 unbeaten second-division matches, SV Darmstadt 98 suffered their first defeat this Friday evening. Three unfortunate minutes just before halftime, during which Patric Pfeiffer was sent off and Vincent Vermeij scored twice, paved the way for Dresden's victory. After the match, the focus was primarily on the differing assessments of two very similar incidents by the refereeing team – incidents which both coaches subsequently evaluated identically.
For the first time since October, Darmstadt 98 finished a league match without any points: SV 98 lost 3-1 (2-0) to SG Dynamo Dresden. After a controversial red card against Patric Pfeiffer (42nd minute), the home side scored two goals in first-half stoppage time to secure the victory.
Under the floodlights at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadium. On Friday evening (February 27th/6:30pm), Darmstadt 98 will play away against Dynamo Dresden. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting eleven. Raoul Petretta makes his first start, replacing Fabian Holland. Luca Marseiler starts in place of the suspended Marco Richter, and Hiroki Akiyama replaces Fraser Hornby, who is sidelined with a thigh injury. Fabian Nürnberger, Matthias Bader, and Bartosz Bialek remain unavailable due to injury.
A floodlit match at the Rudolf-Haribig-Stadion is always something special. Darmstadt 98 are aiming to take three points back to southern Hesse this Friday evening (February 27th). Kick-off is at 6:30pm. All the important information about the 24th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga is clearly summarised for you in our "Matchday Guide".
Darmstadt 98 aim to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games in Friday evening's match against Dynamo Dresden. While Darmstadt's potent attack has resulted in a respectable goal tally, they are wary at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. The Saxons have been on an upward trend since the winter break and will have a vociferous home crowd behind them. We've compiled all the facts and figures surrounding this clash in this report. Here you'll find the key facts for tomorrow's match.
Darmstadt and Dresden are 598 kilometres apart. On Friday evening (February 27th, 6:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will travel to the Saxon capital for the 24th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga. The next away game will take place under the floodlights at the historic Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. You can find all relevant fan information here.
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.
Raoul Petretta joined SV Darmstadt 98 in the winter and already feels very much at home. He talks about his arrival and his goals. Besides their sporting focus, the Lilies are also committed to sustainability: On March 15, 2026, over 3,500 trees will be planted as part of the fifth "In the Sign of the Lily" tree-planting campaign. In our "Lilies Across the Board" section, we provide you with the most important news from SV Darmstadt 98 every week.
Numerous Dynamo Dresden fans flock to the stadium on home match days. But one day, they came for a single reason: What should their stadium be called in the future? Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in front of the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, ready to cast their votes. In cooperation with regional partners, Dynamo Dresden's management took the unusual step of letting the club's supporters decide for themselves.
WirLilien – Together for nature conservation! Together with our partner Krombacher, we will once again plant more than 3,500 trees on Sunday (March 15th) – under the banner of the Lily. You can still register for the event at short notice.
On Friday (February 27th, 7:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team begins the second phase of their Hessenliga season. With 23 points after 20 matchdays, the Lilies are currently in 14th place. Following intensive weeks of winter training, the team aims to start the upcoming challenges with renewed energy and secure crucial points.
A fast-paced, thrilling exchange between SV Darmstadt 98 and Fortuna Düsseldorf reached its ecstatic climax in the 88th minute. Thanks to Matej Maglica's header, Darmstadt secured a 2-1 victory in a wild battle that resembled a 12-round boxing match, with both sides neglecting their defences and constantly searching for the next hook or punch. A day later, sv98.de looks back on what was probably the most exciting home game of the season so far for the South Hessian side.