Darmstadt is back. Well, sort of. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the 2. Bundesliga lately, you know the "Lilies" aren’t just making up the numbers anymore. After a pretty brutal relegation from the top flight last year, things looked shaky at the Böllenfalltor. But as of January 14, 2026, the SV Darmstadt 98 standings tell a much more optimistic story than anyone predicted back in August.
They are sitting in 3rd place.
It’s a weird spot to be. You’re high enough to dream about the Bundesliga again, but you’re also just one bad weekend away from sliding into the mid-table chaos that defines the German second division. With 33 points from 17 matches, Florian Kohfeldt has turned this squad into a high-octane, sometimes frustrating, but always entertaining machine. Honestly, they’ve become the team nobody wants to play on a rainy Friday night.
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Breaking Down the SV Darmstadt 98 Standings
To understand where they are, you have to look at the numbers. They’ve played 17 games. They’ve won 9, drawn 6, and lost only twice. That last stat is the kicker—only two losses in half a season is the kind of consistency that wins promotions.
Currently, they trail the leaders, FC Schalke 04, who have 37 points. SV Elversberg—the season's massive surprise package—is just ahead of them in second with 34. Darmstadt is locked in a dead heat with SC Paderborn, also on 33 points, but the Lilies hold the edge on goal difference.
The Home Fortress vs. The Road Woes
Darmstadt’s season is a tale of two different teams. At the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor, they are essentially invincible. They’ve played nine competitive matches at home this season and haven’t lost a single one.
The "Bölle" has become a graveyard for visiting teams.
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Away from home? It’s a bit more "kinda-maybe." They’ve managed 3 wins, 3 draws, and those 2 losses on the road. It’s not terrible, but it’s the reason they aren't sitting comfortably in first place right now. Their most recent outing was a wild 2-2 draw at Paderborn right before the winter break. They were up 2-0 at halftime and looked like world-beaters. Then, they fell apart in the second half, conceded a late penalty, and limped away with a point.
That game basically summarized their entire season: brilliance mixed with "why did we stop playing?"
The Isac Lidberg Factor
You can't talk about the current standings without mentioning Isac Lidberg. The Swedish striker has been a revelation. He’s bagged 11 goals in 16 appearances, making him one of the most clinical finishers in the league.
What’s crazy is his efficiency. According to recent data from the club, Lidberg has the highest finishing efficiency in the 2. Bundesliga (+4.3). Basically, if he gets a clear-cut chance, it’s going in. He isn’t just a poacher, though. His link-up play with Killian Corredor (5 goals) and Marco Richter has given Darmstadt an offensive identity they lacked for years.
Then you have Hiroki Akiyama. The guy came in on loan from Albirex Niigata and just... fit. He’s started almost every game, boasting a passing accuracy of nearly 93% from open play. In a league known for "kick and rush" football, having a guy who doesn't give the ball away is a cheat code.
Why the Defense is Sneakily Good
People see the 29 goals scored and think Darmstadt is just an all-out attack team. That's not entirely true. Marcel Schuhen, the captain and goalkeeper, has been immense.
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They’ve only conceded 17 goals in 17 games.
That’s exactly one goal per game. In the 2. Bundesliga, where scores often look like tennis results, that is elite-level defending. Patric Pfeiffer and Matej Maglica have formed a physical, no-nonsense partnership in the center of the park. They aren't always pretty to watch, and they definitely give away more fouls than Kohfeldt would like (nearly 200 as a team so far), but they are effective.
Key Stats at a Glance
- Total Points: 33
- League Rank: 3rd
- Home Record: 6-3-0 (League Best)
- Top Scorer: Isac Lidberg (11 goals)
- Clean Sheets: Solid, anchored by Schuhen's 1,530 minutes played.
What's Next for the Lilies?
The winter break is over, and the schedule is about to get intense. Darmstadt kicks off the second half of the season on January 18 against VfL Bochum. This is a massive game. Bochum is sitting in 10th and underperforming, but they have the individual talent to cause problems.
If Darmstadt wants to secure a direct promotion spot and avoid the dreaded relegation/promotion playoff (the Relegation), they need to find a way to kill games off. The 2-2 draws against Paderborn and Arminia Bielefeld were points dropped, not points gained.
Coach Florian Kohfeldt has been vocal about this. He mentioned in a recent press conference that the "culture has changed" at the club. They no longer go into games hoping not to lose; they expect to win. That psychological shift is huge, but it needs to translate into three points when they’re leading in the 70th minute.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the SV Darmstadt 98 standings to see if they’re a good bet for promotion, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Home Form: Until someone actually beats them at the Bölle, they are a lock for home wins or draws.
- The "Lidberg" Dependency: If Isac Lidberg gets injured, Darmstadt’s goal production could crater. They don't have a backup with his specific "X-factor" yet.
- The Pressing Game: Darmstadt has one of the highest pressing lines in the league. This is great for winning the ball back early but leaves them vulnerable to fast counter-attacks. Teams like Hannover 96 and Schalke have already exploited this.
- Discipline: They pick up a lot of yellow cards. It hasn't bitten them yet, but a few key suspensions in February or March could shake up the defensive rotation.
The race for the Bundesliga is going to be tight. Schalke looks like they might run away with it, but that second automatic spot is wide open. Darmstadt has the talent, the home-field advantage, and the momentum. Now they just have to prove they can handle the pressure of being the hunted instead of the hunter.
Keep an eye on the match against Bochum on the 18th—it will set the tone for the rest of their 2026 campaign. If they take three points there, the dream of a return to the top flight becomes a very real probability.