SVE heading confidently to Darmstadt
SV Elversberg are travelling to Darmstadt with slightly fewer staffing woes. They have good memories of the first leg, but this is a new day. They will be hoping to score their first win of the year.
This weekend sees a vital away game for SV Elversberg. On Saturday 8 February, coach Horst Steffen’s team will be heading to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for the 21st day of play in the current second division season. The match kicks off at 1 p.m.
For this duel with the ‘lilies’, SVE will once again be able to draw on the services of recently suspended players Elias Baum, Fisnik Asllani and Frederik Schmahl. ‘I am delighted that nearly everyone is fit and has been able to train well’, coach Horst Steffen emphasised. However, there are still some staffing matters up in the air: Frederik Jäkel remains unavailable and Lukas Pinckert’s ability to play remains in question, as he is struggling with injuries. During this week, the team has been intensively analysing their last home game against Karlsruher SC, in which they were unable to keep hold of a 2:0 lead and ultimately finished with a 2:2 draw. ‘We communicated that we were fundamentally happy with many elements, but also illustrated what we could do better and wanted to change’, Steffen explained. They are now focusing their full attentions on their upcoming duel in Darmstadt.
I am delighted that nearly everyone is fit and has been able to train well.
Horst Steffen
Memories of the first leg are hugely positive: SV Elversberg celebrated their strongest second-division win of this season with an impressive 4:0 scoreline. However, a few things have changed since then. SV Darmstadt 98 have stabilised under Florian Kohfeldt’s leadership. Although the team are still awaiting their first win this year, their results have improved overall in recent months. However, their offence is currently lacking: whilst the ‘lilies’ had one of the most dangerous front lines in the league during the twelve matches before Christmas, at 33 goals, they have only managed to score two goals so far this year – both against Fortuna Düsseldorf. No second-division team has scored fewer goals in 2025 than SV Darmstadt 98. The team are currently going through a difficult phase, with three defeats in their last four matches. This poor yield of just one point in the first three games of this year is exactly the same as their weak start to the season under former coach Torsten Lieberknecht. Florian Kohfeldt may not be in quite the same situation as his predecessor before this duel with SVE, but he is still facing increasing pressure. Darmstadt 98 urgently need to turn the tide.
‘We need to forge ahead calmly, but also grasp the nettle somewhat’, Kohfeldt self-critically commented after their most recent 0:1 defeat by 1. FC Nürnberg. Fluctuating performance is completely normal for a developing team, and this is the process that Darmstadt is currently going through. Despite a temporary upturn, both Kohfeldt and sports director Paul Fernie set up cautious expectations in the autumn, which is continuing to prove sensible. Lingering injury woes are posing an additional challenge. The absence of Isac Lidberg has been felt in virtually every match, making his imminent return hugely important for the team. As well as key players Matthias Bader, Paul Will and Fabian Holland, who have all been out for some time with injuries, the team will now also be missing Kai Klefisch for several weeks, representing another serious setback.
However, these developments have not rattled Horst Steffen, and he is not dazzled by the team’s success in the first leg. ‘The change of coach also brought a new mode of play’, he explains. ‘Darmstadt are now a very mature team. They have a fundamental structure, but their positioning of their offensive players consistently varies – we need to be very careful here. Saturday will once again be an evenly matched duel where we hope to establish another lead and then this time defend it through to the final whistle.’
Darmstadt are now a very mature team. They have a fundamental structure, but their positioning of their offensive players consistently varies – we need to be very careful here.
Horst Steffen
SV Elversberg are therefore heading to Darmstadt with a clear line of approach: draw positive insights from the last game, minimise errors and hold their own against a strong opponent. Saturday will show whether they can beat the ‘lilies’ once again.