SV Darmstadt 98 2026/27 preview, promotion push faces fresh-look attack test | OneFootball

Florian Kohfeldt starts year three at Darmstadt chasing a Bundesliga return, though a remodelled front line may struggle to mirror last season’s output.

According to BuLi News, Isac Lidberg scored 17, only Noel Futkeu had more, while Fraser Hornby added eight assists. Unbeaten at home until a 2-0 loss to Hannover on matchday 29, they then took two points from five to finish fifth, 10 off the play-off, having been second after a 2-0 win over Holstein Kiel on matchday 25.

Kohfeldt returned in 2024 after a difficult KAS Eupen stint, replacing Torsten Lieberknecht after one point from four. He led Darmstadt to 12th, improved last season, and with top-flight spells at Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg, promotion could revive early Nagelsmann comparisons.

Key exits bite, with Lidberg to Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hornby to Wolfsburg, plus Marco Richter and Sergio López departing. Sales, including Killian Corredor to Nantes, raised nearly €10 million, yet spending is a little over €500,000. Ho-jae Lee, 25, arrives with 23 K League 1 goals since 2025 and the number 9, joined by Kehl and Weißhaupt, full-backs Lannert and Kleinhansl, three attackers from Dutch clubs, and Sickinger, while Matej Maglica is linked with Kaiserslautern.

Pre-season brought 24 goals in four friendlies, then a 0-0 with Portsmouth, and Lee debuted from the bench. He should lead the line as systems shift between 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1. Darmstadt host Holstein Kiel, visit Dynamo Dresden, face FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the cup, and a top-half finish is the minimum aim.

Source: BuLi News

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