The showdown between FC Schalke 04 and SV Darmstadt 98 takes place twice within a week – first on Friday (October 24th) in the 2. Bundesliga, then on Wednesday (October 29th) in the DFB-Pokal. The Lilies will be visiting the Veltins Arena first. Kick-off is at 6:30pm. Therefore, our top facts look at Friday evening’s league match. We’ve compiled the most important facts and figures for you.
This season, FC Schalke 04 is at the top of the table. The Royal Blues are currently second in the 2. Bundesliga with 21 points. Particularly noteworthy is Schalke’s current winning streak, having won all of their last four matches – 2-0 in Magdeburg, 1-0 against Fürth, 2-1 in Bielefeld, and 3-0 in Hannover.
FC Schalke 04 is demonstrating its defensive strength this season. In their 3-0 win at Hannover, Schalke kept a clean sheet for the fourth time in the 2025/26 season—the same number as in the entire previous season. Only five goals conceded after nine matches is currently the league best. Schalke’s defensive stance has never been more solid in the past 63 years.
But the Lilies are no slouch either, boasting a winning streak and a strong defence. SV Darmstadt 98 are unbeaten in five matches – three wins, two draws. This is primarily due to their solid defence. The South Hesse team has already kept five clean sheets this season – tied with Elversberg for the league’s best record. It’s also noteworthy that SV 98 has already kept one more clean sheet than in the entire previous season.
Last season, the Lilies won both games against FC Schalke 04. While they celebrated a spectacular 5-3 win after being 3-0 down at the Veltins-Arena, SV 98 also won the return leg at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor 2-0. The first leg against Schalke in particular will probably stay fresh in the memories of every Lilien fan for a long time. In front of their home crowd, the Royal Blues took a 3-0 lead in the first half. A penalty goal from Fraser Hornby, then a hat trick from Isac Lidberg and another goal from Sergio Lopez turned a 0-3 deficit into a 5-3 win! Incidentally, Isac Lidberg played a decisive role in both of the Lilies‘ wins last season, scoring five of the seven goals against S04.
Florian Kohfeldt seems to have a fondness for Schalke: He has won eight of his ten duels against Schalke – with just one draw and one loss. He has not celebrated more victories against any other club in his coaching career. At the Veltins Arena, the SV 98 head coach even has a completely clean sheet, winning six of his six matches against Schalke. However, Kohfeldt still has a score to settle with Miron Muslic. The two coaches already know each other from encounters in Belgium. In the 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League season, the current Schalke coach lost twice with KAS Eupen to Muslic and Cercle Brugge – both times 2-0.
Are Friday night games a favourite for both teams? So far, both SV Darmstadt 98 and FC Schalke 04 have won all their Friday night games this season. The Lilies won 1-0 in Nürnberg and 2-0 at home against Dynamo Dresden on a Friday. Schalke, on the other hand, even played on Fridays once more. The Royal Blues won their Friday games against Hertha (2-1), Fürth (1-0), and Hannover (3-0).
The Lilies currently lead the league in shots on goal after counterattacks – they have created a total of 18 shots on goal after quick transitions. This means that the 98ers have eleven more shots on goal than their upcoming opponent. Four of the 18 shots found the net, placing SVD third in this category. Only SpVgg Greuther Fürth and SV Elversberg are just ahead of the Lilies, each with one more goal.
Sergio Lopez received a second yellow card in the home game against 1. FC Magdeburg. As a result, the full-back will miss the away game at Schalke due to suspension.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | |
| Home | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 15:21 |
| Away | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 17:26 |
| Total | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 32:47 |
Attention Lilien fans: During SV Darmstadt 98’s training camp in Bad Wörishofen (Allgäu region)—taking place from July 19th to July 26th, 2026—there will once again be an opportunity to meet the team, chat with the players, and, of course, get autographs and photos. The fan meet-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, following the friendly match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Kick-off for the match is at 12pm.
SV 98 remains active in the transfer market. The "Lilies" have signed Christopher Lannert from Arminia Bielefeld.
Friendly matches, fundraising campaigns, and plenty of photos—that’s what the week looked like for SV 98 and the club’s community. Between their 5–1 victory over FC Homburg and the upcoming friendly in Walldorf this Friday (July 17), the „Lilies“ showed their best side for the cameras. In addition, the SV 98 legends team will face an Odenwald select squad on Sunday (July 19th). You can also win great prizes in competitions taking place in Erbach and at the pop-up store in downtown Darmstadt. Lilies Across the Board brings you all the latest news from life at SV 98.
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.