The season finally continues! While the U17, U19 and the professional team of SV Darmstadt 98 have already started the new competitive season, the U21 had a longer break in the Hessenliga. Now this Junglilien team is returning to the pitch and will play their first competitive game of 2025 next Sunday (February 16th) at the youth performance centre in Darmstadt.
Not on freshly mown lawn, but on artificial turf in Kastanienallee. The U21 of SV Darmstadt 98 will meet VfB 1905 Marburg on Sunday (2.30pm) at the Lilien NLZ site. In the first leg, the South Hesse team narrowly lost 0-1. But towards the end of last year things were going really well for the Darmstadt team – and the team now wants to build on these strong performances before the winter break. The U21 of SV 98 is currently in sixth place in the table with 35 points.
However, an easy start to the new year looks different. “The first three games against Marburg, Alzenau and Eddersheim will be equally big tests. “We still hope that we can pick up where we left off in the first half of the season,” explains U21 coach Daniel Petrowsky to sv98.de. His team made good use of the winter break to prepare themselves well for these challenges.
Several players from the U19 completed the preparation for the Hessenliga team. In addition, Marcello Maier was added to the defense from TSG Hoffenheim. Overall, the U21 head coach has had a broader squad at his disposal since the winter break, which has noticeably increased competition. “Of course, this also raises the level of training enormously,” emphasizes Petrowsky and adds. “In the end I’m spoiled for choice because there are significantly more than eleven players at a good level.”
The goal in the remainder of the second half of the season remains to prove that the team can compete at the level of the Hessenliga. At the same time, the focus is on developing the players individually. The positive approaches from the preparation gave us courage and self-confidence: out of five test games, the team only narrowly lost one, 2-1 against SV Gonsenheim. In the other games, the Junglilien always left the pitch as winners.
“If you compare it with the summer preparation, you can clearly see how the team has developed in these six months. “We are much more stable defensively and play more dominant football overall – we had some difficulties with that at the beginning, especially against men’s teams,” says Petrowsky with satisfaction. The last test before the start of the competitive game in particular should have given the team a lot of self-confidence: with a clear 7-1 win against the association league team VfB Bodenheim, the U21 warmed up for the start of the Hessenliga. “The anticipation is huge. We haven’t had any competitive games for two and a half months and were in preparation for six weeks, during which we had a lot of intensive training sessions.“ The Junglilien want to continue their positive trend against VfB 1905.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
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.