After the draw against SC Paderborn, direct promotion to the Bundesliga has become a little less likely for Hamburger SV.
“If there’s no other way, then we’ll take relegation,” said captain Sebastian Schonlau on Friday evening after the 2-2 draw against the fourth-placed team. “Relegation is also a way to get promoted. Then you have two games and it’s back in your own hands.”
Table leaders Darmstadt 98 seems to be too far away for HSV anyway. After the Hamburg draw, the Hessians can already complete their promotion on Saturday evening (8.30 p.m. / Sky and Sport1) with a win against HSV city rivals FC St. Pauli.
The Hanseatic League’s chances of finishing second in the table with 1. FC Heidenheim are also dwindling three games before the end of the season. With a win on Sunday (1.30 p.m. / Sky) against 1. FC Magdeburg, the Heidenheimers would be six points ahead.
Darmstadt coach Torsten Lieberknecht had announced that he would watch HSV’s game against SC Paderborn on television. However, he did not want to participate in speculation about the premature rise. “We ignore table situations and everything that surrounds them. That has been our path all season,” said the 49-year-old. “That’s why we’re currently at 64 points. We’re not throwing out slogans, we’re staying calm and with ourselves.”
Lieberknecht was able to watch on TV how HSV lost a lead twice against Paderborn. Robert Glatzel (39th) and Sonny Kittel (49th) put Hamburg ahead twice in front of 57,000 spectators in the Volkspark Stadium, which was once again sold out. Julian Justvan (43′) and Florent Muslija (73′) both equalized with a penalty kick.
Paderborn’s coach Lukas Kwasniok spoke of a “great game” and “advertisement for the second division”. His HSV colleague Tim Walter could only share half of the enthusiasm. “I’m happy with the performance of my team, but not with the result,” he said.