Exuberance persistent, yet outcome decisive.

In a thrilling encounter at the Stadion am Böllenfalltor, a sold-out crowd of 17,810 spectators witnessed a hard-fought 0-0 draw between SV Darmstadt 98 and Hertha BSC in the German 2. Bundesliga.

The game started with Darmstadt taking the initiative, their tenacious play and quick ball recovery causing Hertha some early problems. However, Hertha found their rhythm as the match progressed, with Maurice Krattenmacher having a significant chance in the opening minutes, narrowly missing the ball in a central position.

Darmstadt's strong start paid off in the 26th minute when Isac Lidberg scored what seemed to be the opening goal. However, the celebrations were cut short as the goal was disallowed due to offside. The rest of the first half saw both teams creating promising opportunities, with the ball hitting the post for both sides, but neither team was able to break the deadlock.

Coach Florian Kohfeldt described the game as "captivating" and "played at a very high second division level". In the 40th minute, Aleksandar Vukotic made an acrobatic save for Darmstadt to prevent a goal from Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson, highlighting the intense nature of the match.

The second half saw a slower pace compared to the first, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. In the 84th minute, Tjark Ernst, the Hertha goalkeeper, saved his team from defeat by palming away a header from Killian Corredor.

Despite the draw, Darmstadt remains unbeaten and is in second place behind leaders Hannover 96. The match was significant for Darmstadt as it prevented them from taking the lead in the 2. Bundesliga table.

Clemens Riedel, a 22-year-old central defender who has been a part of the Darmstadt squad since he was 15, was absent from the squad during the game against Hertha. It was announced earlier that Riedel will leave the club in late August 2025 to join the Spanish first division club RCD Espanyol Barcelona. Kohfeldt stated that no other player is expected to leave the club after Riedel's departure.

The draw marked a setback for Darmstadt in their quest for the top spot, but the team will look to bounce back in their next match.