They belong to SV Darmstadt 98, but wear the jerseys of other clubs on loan – whether in Germany, Austria, or Hungary. The Lilies currently have a total of five players out on loan: Paul Will (Greuther Fürth), Leon Klassen (Grazer AK), Meldin Dreskovic (Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC), Fabio Torsiello (Alemannia Aachen), and Othmane El Idrissi (Viktoria Aschaffenburg). How are they doing? We take a look.
A goal against the league leaders! Leon Klassen played a crucial role in Grazer AK’s point against RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday afternoon (February 15th). In the 1-1 draw between Graz and the 17-time Austrian champions, Klassen, who started the match and played the full 90 minutes, briefly put his loan club in the lead with his first goal for the club. „We can be satisfied with the point. We’re on the right track and are implementing our game plan better and better,“ Klassen said after the match in an interview with the club’s TV channel.
The Austrian Bundesliga has only been back in action for two matches and Klassen has started both games. While he played the full 90 minutes against Salzburg, he accumulated a total of 87 minutes of playing time in the 2-2 draw against Wolfsberger AC. With Grazer AK, the defender currently sits second-to-last in the Austrian Bundesliga standings. GAK’s next match is away against TSV Hartberg next weekend.
An incredibly spectacular goal, but unfortunately it didn’t count… Paul Will scored a truly impressive long-range strike for Greuther Fürth last weekend – a shot with his left instep into the right corner. However, because a foul had been committed in the build-up, Will’s goal was disallowed – no goal for the on-loan midfielder, and therefore no points for Greuther Fürth in Kaiserslautern. The Cloverleaf suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Kaiserslautern. Paul Will once again started the match and played the full 90 minutes.
The 26-year-old is gaining plenty of playing time in Fürth’s colours. „I want to lead by example with my performance and my mentality,“ Will said in the mixed zone after his debut in January against Eintracht Braunschweig. In all four matches since his winter loan move, Will has been in the starting eleven and played the full 90 minutes in each game – against Braunschweig (0-0), Kiel (2-1), Magdeburg (4-5), and, of course, against Kaiserslautern (0-1). Greuther Fürth currently sits in 18th place in the 2. Bundesliga, four points behind the relegation playoff spot. Their next match is at home against Arminia Bielefeld next Friday (February 20th).
Things are going really well for Meldin Dreskovic and Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC. Since his move to Hungary, the club has remained undefeated, racking up three wins and a draw in their last four matches. Yesterday, Sunday (February 15th), Dreskovic and his teammates secured a comfortable 4-0 away victory against Kazincbarcikai SC. The centre-back, on loan from SV 98, who wears the number 98 jersey for the Hungarian club, played the full 90 minutes.
The 27-year-old is already accumulating plenty of playing time in the Hungarian first division. He has started four matches so far – playing the full 90 minutes three times and being substituted at halftime once due to a yellow card accumulation. Dreskovic has also contributed an assist in the 4-2 win against MTK Budapest. Thanks to their current unbeaten run, Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC have temporarily moved out of the relegation zone. Their next match is at home against Kisvárda FC next Saturday (February 21st).
After a prolonged period of injury, Fabio Torsiello is back on the training pitch. The 21-year-old underwent knee surgery last August and was only able to return to training at the beginning of this year. The striker is currently fully integrated into Alemannia Aachen’s team training, but he hasn’t yet earned a place in the squad for the team currently sitting in 14th place in the second half of the 3. Liga season. His next opportunity will be this coming Saturday (February 21st) when Aachen hosts SC Verl.
Torsiello has been wearing Alemannia Aachen’s black and yellow jersey since the summer of 2025. At the start of this 3. Liga season, before his injury, he made all four possible appearances – three in the 3. Liga and one in the Middle Rhine Cup. He started twice and came off the bench twice, gaining valuable playing time.
Torsiello saw significantly more playing time – and was injury-free – in the 2024/25 3. Liga season. In the winter of 2025, Darmstadt loaned the young striker to SpVgg Unterhaching six months ago, where he made 17 appearances in the 3. Liga, scoring four goals and providing one assist. He also played twice in the Bavarian Cup, scoring once in that competition.
Othmane El Idrissi is currently on loan with Viktoria Aschaffenburg, enjoying the winter break in the Regionalliga Bayern. The attacking midfielder has made a total of nine appearances for Aschaffenburg – eight in the Regionalliga and one in the Bavarian Cup. Viktoria Aschaffenburg’s next league match is on February 28th, when they host Schwaben Augsburg.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.