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 |
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.
Lilies at the Wildpark! SV Darmstadt 98 will be playing away against Karlsruher SC this coming Sunday (May 3rd/1:30pm) for the 32nd matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. Will Darmstadt's positive record from recent encounters continue? Will Florian Kohfeldt and Isac Lidberg extend their scoring streak against KSC? And will Fabian Schleusener finally stop scoring against SV 98? We've compiled all the facts and figures for you.
SV Darmstadt 98 will be playing away against Karlsruher SC on Sunday (May 3rd/1:30pm) at the Wildpark Stadium for the 32nd matchday. To ensure you are well prepared for your trip to KSC, here is a summary of all the important information for your visit to the stadium.
To ensure a smooth and convenient journey to Karlsruhe this weekend, SV 98 is offering a special train service that will transport Lilies fans directly from Darmstadt to Karlsruhe and back. Additionally, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team will host SV Hummetroth at their home academy this Wednesday evening (April 29th). For more news and updates, check out our usual "Lilien Across the Board" – all the latest news about the club, gathered here for you.
At the end of the current season, the partnership between SV Darmstadt 98 and Software AG, which has grown over many years, will end due to a strategic realignment of the software company.
The DFB sports court has suspended Patric Pfeiffer for one match following his sending-off against SV Elversberg.
Four goals, three points, and a well-deserved victory in the Hessenliga! At home against VfB 1905 Marburg last Saturday (April 25th), SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team finally celebrated a win after a long wait. Thanks to their confidence, assertiveness in one-on-one situations, and numerous scoring opportunities, the U21s convincingly beat the Marburg team 4-0.
As Florian Kohfeldt approached the team's dressing room at halftime, the Darmstadt head coach heard exactly one sentence: "It's not finished." Fraser Hornby had uttered it, setting the tone for his teammates and himself. What followed was a remarkable second half from Darmstadt 98 and a point against SV Elversberg, a point that, while likely insufficient for their promotion hopes in southern Hesse, nonetheless filled the Darmstadt fans with pride.
For every home goal scored by the Lilies, SV Darmstadt 98 fans will be doubly rewarded in the 2025/26 season. In addition to the joy and excitement, the Lilies' supporters will also receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor.