Ahead of Friday evening's match (March 13th/6:30pm), Florian Kohfeldt assesses 1. FC Magdeburg's playing style, provides a personnel update, and looks at his own team's preparations for the game. We have summarised the most important statements from our head coach's press conference here.
Personnel update: Bartosz Bialek and Fraser Hornby are unavailable.
We tried Fraser Hornby before the Kiel game, but we opted for a more conservative approach, and he’ll return next week. It’s great that Paddy is coming back. We’ve taken a cautious approach with Rafa (Fabian Nürnberger). He trained fully this week and is therefore a candidate for playing time. Killi trained less, but he feels ready to play 90 minutes straight after a six-week break. He’ll train fully with the team again today for the first time. I’m sure he’s a candidate for the squad. Matze (Bader) trained fully this week and didn’t feel anything. I’d love to include him, but I’ll also consider his prospects for the coming weeks.
I have immense respect for Magdeburg, not least because I’ve never won a game against them. But that’s not the only reason. They have a lot of individual quality in their squad, with players who were in contention for promotion to the Bundesliga right up until the end of last year. Atik, Zukowski, and Ghrieb have a combined 36 points. It’s incomprehensible why they’re at the bottom of the table. And it’s even more baffling when you look at their performances. They should have beaten Elversberg, for example.
They’ve changed their style of play a bit. It used to be all about playing out from the back and combining until the final whistle; they always played man-to-man all over the pitch. They’ve altered that somewhat. They still have those elements, but they’ve also placed a strong emphasis on counter-attacks. They defend deep and then want to capitalise on those transitions. We have to be very alert about that. They have an exciting mix.
Looking at the analysis, there’s no reason why Magdeburg should be 18th. However, it’s a factor in our match preparation that they might not be as confident as teams in the top third of the table. But purely in terms of basic footballing quality, they’re a top-eight team. That’s why we’re very wary, especially since we’re not quite as strong away from home as we are at home. There are many factors that show we absolutely must be vigilant and on our guard.
There are routines that are important, but every game requires specific preparation. We’re not doing anything completely out of the box for Magdeburg, though. We’re confident and know we can win games. We also know that opponents need to be prepared for our strengths. We’re simply eager to win an away game.
I’m working very hard to prevent us from already looking ahead to the next games. I’m very strict about that. There’s only one thing that matters: Friday night. Once Friday is over, it’s all about Saturday. Anything else is pointless. But I have to communicate that more to the outside world than within our locker room. That’s an important distinction.
Of course, I’m aware that there probably won’t be a single seat left at the Bölle for the last four home games – fantastic. And everyone watching from the outside should be dreaming about those evenings, and the excitement should be palpable. I think it’s really cool that this euphoria has built up in the city. But we only have one job: Friday night.
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: