Between staying in the league, fighting relegation, and the end of the season, the second half of the season was a busy one for SV Darmstadt 98's loaned players. While Paul Will is still battling to avoid relegation with SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Leon Klassen (Grazer AK), Meldin Dreskovic (Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC), Fabio Torsiello (Alemannia Aachen), and Othmane El Idrissi (Viktoria Aschaffenburg) have already finished their seasons. We take a look at the past few weeks for the Lilies' loaned players.
SpVgg Greuther Fürth entered the final matchday of the 2025/26 season second-to-last in the standings. They desperately needed goals in their direct relegation battle with Fortuna Düsseldorf. And the Cloverleaf delivered. On matchday 34, Fürth scored three goals against Fortuna Düsseldorf, securing their place in the relegation playoffs. Paul Will also played a key role. The defensive midfielder, on loan from SV Darmstadt 98 since the second half of the season, was a decisive factor for the Green-Whites. Things had been looking up for the Cloverleaf since the winter break. The Franconian side finished the first half of the season with just 15 points, second-to-last in the table. In the second half, they collected 22 points and currently sit in eleventh place in the second-half standings.
Except for the match against Darmstadt, in which he was unavailable due to contractual reasons, Fürth’s head coach Heiko Vogel started the 27-year-old in every game; he only missed three matches, not playing the full 90 minutes. And he also wore the jersey for the full 90 minutes in Fürth’s last crucial match. That makes a total of 15 appearances in the second half of the season. Now, Will and his teammates face two more matches in their fight to avoid relegation: In the relegation play-offs to stay in the second division, they will face Rot-Weiss Essen (May 22nd/8:30pm and May 26th/8:30pm) – the team of former Lilien player Klaus Gjasula.
Grazer AK were still embroiled in a relegation battle on the final matchday against Blau-Weiß Linz. However, an early goal, set up by Leon Klassen, paved the way for their survival. In the sixth minute, Klassen intercepted the ball in the opposition’s half and immediately passed to his teammate Lichtenberger, who fired a shot into the net from around 20 metres. At 2-0, the 25-year-old was once again in the spotlight, demonstrating his tremendous commitment. A Linz player was poised to pounce on a rebound after the Graz goalkeeper parried the ball, but Klassen threw himself into the challenge and slid in to deflect it for a corner.
Just like Paul Will, Klassen is indispensable at his loan club. Grazer AK have had the left-back on loan since the second half of last season. Since then, he has started every match and played almost every minute – only being substituted three times (in the 87th, 69th, and 89th minutes). Klassen has made a total of 15 appearances for the Austrians, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
What was already apparent after Meldin Dreskovic’s first few games at his current club, Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC, has been confirmed in the remaining matches of the second half of the season. The 28-year-old has been a regular starter in the Hungarian league and, thanks to a dominant second half of the season, has kept SFC clear of the relegation battle. Although they finished the season in ninth place (fourth from bottom), the numerous points they accumulated in the second half of the season allowed them to create a comfortable cushion. They are now twelve points clear of the relegation zone.
In their last match against the bottom-placed team, Nyíregyháza secured a point, with Dreskovic contributing an assist. The centre-back, wearing number 98, passed to teammate Kovacsreti, who unleashed a shot from 32 metres that found the back of the net. His record in the second half of the 2025/26 season: 14 games, one goal, two assists.
In the summer of 2025, Fabio Torsiello joined Alemannia Aachen in the 3. Liga on loan. He started with three appearances in the third division and one in the Middle Rhine Cup, but in August he had to undergo knee surgery, which prevented him from being an option for coach Mersad Selimbegović until early February.
He rejoined the squad at the beginning of March and made five appearances by the end of the season. Alemannia showed a significant improvement after the winter break. At the halfway point of the season, they were in 17th place with 21 points, a relegation spot. In the second half of the season, they moved up to second place with 43 points, catapulting themselves from the relegation zone to seventh place overall.
Viktoria Aschaffenburg finished the season in 17th place, second to last in the table, after a defeat on the final matchday. Othmane El Idrissi made a total of nine league appearances and one more appearance in the Bavarian Cup.
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.