“If you know that this day is coming, you can prepare for it to some extent,” said Torsten Lieberknecht in front of rolling TV cameras. At this point late on Sunday evening, there was already certainty in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, which was filled with dejected people, hanging heads and sad faces. The 0-1 defeat against 1. FC Heidenheim sealed SV Darmstadt 98's relegation from the 1st Bundesliga. “But when that day comes, everything you thought about beforehand is gone,” continued the Lilien head coach: “Because it’s just a rubbish moment.”
The images after the final whistle on matchday 31 could not have been more contrasting. On the one hand, the Heidenheimers celebrated an away win that will most likely allow them to stay in the league. On the other hand, it was clear that the Lilies would be competing in the second division again next season. “We were finally relegated today. And that hurts brutally,” Tobias Kempe gave a brief insight into the emotional world that was the same for all Darmstadt residents. “It’s an absolute rubbish feeling,” Marcel Schuhen also didn’t mince his words, and Fabian Nürnberger had to say in dismay on the DAZN microphone: “It’s pretty empty inside me at the moment.”
The previous 90 minutes can be quickly summarised: a balanced game with chances on both sides. Plus two strong goalkeepers who saved their teams from falling behind on one or two occasions. And then shortly before the end another strange goal was conceded. This was followed by a cross that, bizarrely, could not be cleared, but instead landed directly on the goalscorer’s foot. “The way this game went and the goal we conceded is emblematic of our season,” said Schuhen.
SV Darmstadt 98 simply experienced too many games like this in this 2023/24 Bundesliga season – they actually kept up quite well and presented themselves well, but they didn’t get enough points in terms of points and they didn’t defend attentively or consistently enough, especially in crucial situations. “Of course we don’t have enough points, we made too many individual mistakes and perhaps we often didn’t have the right feeling for how things were going in the Bundesliga,” was the SV 98 goalkeeper’s first analysis. With only 17 points In terms of points, the Lilies already have no chance of another year in the Bundesliga three match days before the end of the season.
After the clear 4-0 defeat against their rivals from Mainz, everyone in Darmstadt was able to adjust to the fact that it was hardly possible to stay in the league. However, this relegation would have been a great football miracle before the season anyway. “In the end, nothing happened that was unforeseeable,” said club president Rüdiger Fritsch in the mixed zone of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor and added: “The problem is how.”
After all, up until the Mainz game it was quite realistic and within the realm of possibility to stay in the league. The special constellation of this Bundesliga season also allowed us to have a say in the relegation battle for a long time, even with relatively few points. But especially in the sometimes very close games against their direct competition (except for the 2-0 win in Cologne), the Lilies were unable to gain the necessary points. A winless streak of 22 games in a row and a league-high total of 73 goals conceded did the rest. In addition, SV 98 failed to achieve consistency throughout the season, let alone get into a flow – neither away nor at home. Only a meagre six home points are by far the lowest score of the competition. “We will work through this with everyone involved,” explained Fritsch, who also made it clear at the same time: “Nothing will get lost here. Nothing breaks down here either.”
The Darmstadt President’s last two sentences were supported by the scenes after the final whistle. When a team is relegated, completely different scenarios have been seen in other stadiums, explained Lieberknecht. But not at the Böllenfalltor location. There on Nieder-Ramstädter-Straße in Darmstadt, where the cohesion of the entire Lilien family is firmly anchored in the DNA of every Darmstadt soul – and is also lived. “Here in the stadium you felt a commonality between all the lilies,” emphasised the head coach and added: “It was a really big sign from the fans to show commonality in this difficult defeat.”
Something that the players in particular really appreciated. Their deep gratitude for this was not only noticeable among the protagonists who later appeared in front of the microphones and cameras. The team stood in front of the curve for minutes, then set off on a lap through the entire stadium – always receiving encouraging words and chants from the stands. Marcel Schuhen:
The fans are sensational. The sensitivity is really something special and I don't think there are many clubs where we players can still high-five with so many fans on a round after relegation has been confirmed. If anyone deserved the Bundesliga, it would be these people out there.
It is these people, these special fans, for whom SV 98 is obliged to invest everything in the remaining three Bundesliga games in order to say goodbye to the Bundesliga with dignity and decency. First in Wolfsburg, then at home against Hoffenheim and at the end of the season in Dortmund. It’s important to show once again that the Lilien family sticks together – in league one and in league two next season.
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:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
Tickets for the league match in Nürnberg (Nov. 7th) and the cup match in Elversberg (Oct. 27th) are available for purchase now.
For the upcoming home match on Saturday (October 10th, 2026, at 1pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information. Since the start of the season, we have been offering dedicated entrances for women at the west side of the stadium. Additionally, there is a "Bölle Bande" family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance. Please also take note of the information provided by HEAG regarding the autumn break.