What kind of opponent can Darmstadt expect from Holstein Kiel? What lessons has SV Darmstadt 98 learned from their defeat against Dresden? And what will be crucial on Saturday afternoon (March 7th/1 pm)? Head coach Florian Kohfeldt answered these and other questions at the press conference on Thursday (March 5th). We've summarised the most important statements from our head coach's press conference for you.
Personnel update: Fabian Nürnberger, Matthias Bader, Bartosz Bialek and Patric Pfeiffer (suspension) are unavailable.
With Fraser, we want to wait and see how he’s doing over the two days leading up to the game and then see what the weekend brings. He’s not a definite no-show, but he’s also not a guaranteed starter or even a sure bet for the squad. He’s fit again, and there’s no point in beating around the bush about how important Fraser is for us. But I can’t say anything definitive about it yet.
We have three top centre-backs in Paddy, Matej, and Vuko. Now Vuko is replacing Paddy. We’re happy when Paddy returns because he plays an incredibly stable and important role in our team. But my confidence in Vuko remains completely unbroken. The fact that we’re able to replace Paddy like-for-like with Vuko speaks volumes about Paul Fernie’s squad planning. This is one of the personnel decisions that allows me, as a coach, to sleep soundly at night.
There’s no denying that Kiel isn’t where they want to be in the standings, or where they belong. With Tim Walter, they now have a new coach who represents a specific style of football. I’m really looking forward to getting to know him. He has an exciting approach to the game. In the match against Elversberg, it was already clear that, unlike how he used to play with his teams, he pressed much more aggressively and demanded a lot more intensity. However, when in possession, you could also see elements that he had implemented at his previous clubs – for example, positional changes and a courageous attacking style.
Keeping a team like Elversberg at 46.5 percent possession, as Kiel did last weekend, isn’t easy. Tim Walter is an exciting coach, coupled with a team whose fundamental quality doesn’t reflect their current position. Nevertheless, this is the week in which I can say the least about Kiel’s team, because we only have this one game in the context of Tim Walter and Holstein Kiel. Therefore, we’ll focus on ourselves. We have our routines and a clear system. These should give us a good chance of winning this home game. Holstein Kiel is a tough opponent that awaits us on Saturday.
Sunshine over the Bölle, a faint smell of bratwurst in the air: I can certainly appreciate that. There are worse times to play football (grins). Whether the floodlights are on or not: external factors shouldn’t influence a footballer. Nevertheless, being chosen so frequently for the 8:30pm match says something about the appeal we’ve developed over the season and the attractiveness of our games. Many of our matches have been thrilling and fast-paced. That’s why we’re delighted; it’s also a compliment to our location.
With a 13-game unbeaten streak, it’s only natural that you’ll lose sometimes. We discussed it in the locker room in Dresden on Friday evening and put the game behind us. We learned from it how to balance Akiyama, Schmidt, and Klefisch, who were playing together for the first time, both in possession and defensively. In the four or five minutes before halftime, our game management wasn’t good; we got a bit frantic. We also gained a very good understanding of Raoul Petretta, who had a good first half. Then we prepared very well for Saturday’s game. Our full focus this week was on Kiel. The team was already super focused at the start of the week. We trained very well and are looking forward to our home game.
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: