How do the lilies deal with setbacks? How does Torsten Lieberknecht view his upcoming opponent? Which players are available to him for the home game against FC Augsburg (2nd March/3.30pm)? The head coach of SV Darmstadt 98 provided the appropriate answers to these and other questions at the press conference on Thursday (February 29). We have typed down the most important statements for you.
Fabian Nürnberger has ankle problems and will be out. Added to this is Matthias Bader, who injured his thigh muscle. Fabian Schnellhardt also has problems with his thigh due to muscle stiffness. Otherwise, Clemens Riedel and Fraser Hornby are not there. Things are dragging a bit for Braydon Manu. He’s sometimes in and out of team training. Although he no longer feels pain, he does experience some fatigue that prevents him from completing a normal week of training. We now want to stress him individually so that he is at 100 percent and can complete a full week of training.
Marvin Mehlem and we, together with the medical department, have decided that he will carry out his treatment conservatively. I don’t dare guess how long the downtime will be. Unfortunately for Marvin, when he gets into peak condition, an injury sets him back. This is bitter for us, even more bitter for him. He was well on his way to regaining his old strength. It is therefore important that we continue to support Marvin so that he can find his way back. From every injury you have to come back stronger.
This game will include everything. Tactics will of course play a role. For the first time in a long time we face an opponent who will probably play with a diamond. Accordingly, there are tactical considerations as to how we should act against them. We also prepared for a lot of aerial duels on defense. We have to act quickly to collect the first and second balls. We want to find solutions with the ball to put the opponent in trouble. The intensity and toughness of duels are always high in the Bundesliga. That will also be the case against Augsburg.
We have to accept situations like the one in Bremen recently. We have to be resilient and want to influence what we can influence ourselves. This includes training and having a good plan on the weekend. In addition, we must never lose optimism. We feel like we’re close. We performed well even against in-form teams like Bremen, Stuttgart and Leverkusen. But perhaps we still need better performance and even more intensity to get the reward. But we can always look in the mirror before and after the games and say that we achieved a lot and did a lot. The trick is that we quickly find the right words. The boys have to get back into action quickly so that they can shake off one game and prepare for the next one.
They are three very sensible boys who really enjoy putting on the Darmstadt jersey and identify with the club from day one. They contribute very well to the team. As players, you want to help the team and the club stay in the Bundesliga. In terms of types, they fit Darmstadt 98 completely. With Gerrit Holtmann we saw what his strengths are. But we also knew that he and Sebastian Polter had little playing time. So we had to make sure we got them ready to play. We managed to do that well with Polti. Gerrit is now fit again and we hope that he stays fit. Things are a little different with Julian Justvan, as he has already trained and played at that level at Hoffenheim.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
A special place of remembrance for one of the most famous Darmstadt fans. Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), Jonathan Heimes Square at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor will be officially opened.
Darmstadt's league campaign resumes on Sunday (August 30th). Their opponent? Hannover 96! Hannover 96 have lost more often to Darmstadt than to any other team in the 2. Bundesliga. All the other facts and figures surrounding the match can be found here.
On Sunday (August 30, 2026, 1:30pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information for the upcoming home game. Starting this season, we will be offering women's entrances at the west entrances. Additionally, there is a Bölle Bande family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance.
In Wednesday's media briefing, Nicolas Verkooijen spoke about his Kickbase team, communication within the squad, and the intensive training in Germany. A former Darmstadt 98 player had the opportunity to compete against the best footballers, and we report on the historic stadium tour as part of the Bundesliga's founding anniversary celebrations. All the latest news from SV Darmstadt 98 can be found, as usual, in "Lilies Across the Board"
A journey to the roots of the Lilies: Where churches, residential buildings, or clubhouses stand today, Darmstadt football history was once written. To mark the Day of German Football History, 35 participants set out on a special tour of discovery aboard the professional team's bus—tracing the path from the early pitches of FK Olympia and SC Darmstadt to the club's current home at the Böllenfalltor.