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.
Merveille Papela suffered a meniscus injury during Darmstadt 98's away match in Karlsruhe (May 3rd). This was confirmed by examinations over the past few weeks. The 25-year-old has already undergone successful surgery. Papela will therefore be unavailable to SV Darmstadt 98 for the next few months.
The 2025/26 season for SV Darmstadt 98 came to an end with their home match against SC Paderborn. Looking at the final standings, points total, and many memorable moments, it’s a season that still deserves the label „remarkably good.“ From a broader perspective, the overall assessment of the year is overwhelmingly positive. However, the final weeks of the season, which proved quite challenging, are also part of the overall evaluation. We’ll take another look back at those weeks in our season analysis.
SV Darmstadt 98, founded in 1898, will celebrate its 128th anniversary this coming Friday (May 22nd). To mark this milestone, SV 98 invites all Lilies fans to the Schlossgartenplatz in Darmstadt from 5pm to 10pm. Club members will even receive free drinks – while supplies last.
After 34 matchdays, the season came to an end last Sunday. Marcel Schuhen finally got a break, having played every single minute of the entire campaign. But unlike the professionals, the young Lilies can't rest just yet. There's still plenty to do for the reserve team. And there's also a lot going on off the pitch. We'll keep you updated here in "Lilies Across the Board" with all the latest news.
More crucial points. Away at 1. Hanauer FC, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team delivered a convincing five-goal performance in their fight to avoid relegation. With this victory, the young Lilies have amassed twelve points from their last five matches. With two matchdays remaining, direct relegation is no longer a possibility, and the U21s hold a nine-point cushion above the relegation zone. However, Darmstadt need more points to further distance themselves from the relegation playoff spot.
Despite a valiant effort and several chances, SV Darmstadt 98 lost 2-0 to SC Paderborn. The Lilies still finish the season in fifth place. However, the main focus of the match for Darmstadt was the farewell to club legend Fabian Holland. What did the coaches and players have to say about this afternoon's game? We've compiled their reactions.
They tried everything, but the goal just wouldn't come: Darmstadt lost 2-0 (1-0) to SC Paderborn. This means SV 98 finishes the 2025/26 season in fifth place with 52 points. Fabian Holland played 69 minutes in his final match for Darmstadt.
The last home game of the 2025/26 season – and a very special one at that. Fabian Holland will lead the team onto the pitch as captain in his 319th and final competitive match. He replaces Raoul Petretta in the SV 98 starting eleven. Furthermore, Florian Kohfeldt has selected Aleksandar Vukotic, who starts in place of the injured Patric Pfeiffer, and Sergio Lopez, who starts in place of Yosuke Furukawa, for the 34th matchday of the second division. Bartosz Bialek is unavailable for selection due to a foot injury.
One last time! One more football match this season, one last time at the Bölle, and one last time with Fabian Holland. On matchday 34, SV Darmstadt 98 will face SC Paderborn on Sunday (May 17th, 3:30pm). Who will referee the match? Where will it be broadcast? And will the sun be shining? You'll find all the answers as usual in "Matchday Guide" – clearly presented with everything you need to know about the matchday.
What about Fabian Holland's availability? What makes number 32 a true Darmstadt legend? How does Florian Kohfeldt view Sunday afternoon's match (May 17th, 3:30pm) against SC Paderborn? And what grade would he give the 2025/26 season? Many questions, detailed answers. We've compiled the most important statements from Darmstadt's head coach at Friday's (May 15th) press conference for you.
SV 98 will bid farewell to a total of six players around the time of their final home game against SC Paderborn (May 17th/3:30pm).
The situation is almost unique: 2nd place – 59 points, 3rd place – 59 points, 4th place – 59 points. Three teams are tied on points in the fight for direct promotion, and this is on the final matchday. Elversberg, Hannover, and then Darmstadt's opponent SC Paderborn: currently, goal difference will decide promotion, relegation play-offs, and the unenviable fourth place.