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.
„Congratulations to KSC on their home win. We played an incredibly good game, considering what was possible today. We had to start with five players in unfamiliar positions after Matej Maglica and Sergio Lopez were ruled out in yesterday’s final training session. We had to play with a back three that hadn’t played together before, and especially with two players, Fabian Holland and Kai Klefisch, who don’t usually play in those positions. My special praise goes to Fabi, who did a fantastic job as a left-sided centre-back. We played a superb first half, with good structure on the ball, created scoring opportunities, and controlled the game. We should have taken the lead with the two chances from Marco Richter and Hiroki Akiyama. In the second half, KSC came out stronger after the break, and we eased off a bit. Even after conceding, we showed incredible fighting spirit. In the end, it’s obviously very bitter to lose due to such a late situation. I’m proud of my team, even if that doesn’t lessen the pain today. Of course, we’re disappointed that we’re now mathematically relegated.“ We can no longer reach the top three places. We dropped points at the wrong time of the season. There are multiple reasons for this, which we will address during the summer break. We will give everything we can to finish the season with positive results. Because the fans, the club, and we ourselves deserve that.”
„When I list all the absences in the Darmstadt squad and then see how much game understanding and intelligence they display on the pitch, it’s truly impressive. They’re so passionate about football and do so many things right. Darmstadt dominated the first half and should have taken the lead. We were allowed to stay in the game and then addressed a couple of things at halftime. We’ve been close to getting something to show for it for a long time in recent weeks, but the team is incredibly hardworking, and today we finally finished off our attacks. We like it when the game gets a bit more chaotic. That’s why I’m proud that we won today’s match. Kudos to your team, Flo: you’re a joy to watch, you’ve laid a fantastic foundation.“
„It feels awful. We just couldn’t bring our power to the pitch again. Of course, you can talk about who was missing today. But I won’t allow any excuses. We were good in the first half, we were good in the spaces. At times, we held onto the ball for too long; we should have moved it faster. KSC offered us those spaces, but we couldn’t exploit them. Up front, we’re perhaps lacking a bit of conviction at the moment, the conviction to put the ball in the back of the net. Nevertheless, I have to say we gave it our all. You can see how exhausted everyone is and how they threw themselves into every challenge. But it just wasn’t enough again today; it’s emblematic of the last few weeks. But we still have two games left, and in those, it’s a matter of giving everything we’ve got.“
„We should have taken a clear lead in the first half, because then the game would have gone in a different direction. Be more efficient and keep going, it’s that simple. We had a bit less control in the second half, but it’s frustrating that we didn’t take the lead in the first 45 minutes. Regardless of the league table: our job was to get three points, and we didn’t do that. Sure, we had some players out, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse. The players who were available were up to the task; otherwise, they wouldn’t be playing for Darmstadt 98. We could have won with today’s starting eleven, which makes it all the more frustrating.“
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: