The HSV has the Karlsruher SC visiting the Volksparkstadion on Sunday. For the Hamburgers, the second division promotion race after two weak games is about finding a victory back on track. For this, coach Merlin Polzin and his team have to get their construction sites under control.
The Hamburg Marathon will take place on Sunday. Almost 40,000 runners will then move through the streets of the Hanseatic city. And some of them will struggle with problems, especially in the last quarter of the race – be it their legs or head.
The image of physical and mental challenges offers certain analogies for a season in football that is often said that it is “a marathon, not a sprint”. At HSV you know that all too well. The former Bundesliga dino has all too often ended in the end of six failed attempts. Because the legs do not take part – or the head.
Victory against the KSC would be important for the HSV psyche
After two weak games against Braunschweig (2: 4) and Schalke (2: 2), the previously very comfortable situation in the promotion race is much more tense again. The Hamburgers have three points ahead of the duel on Sunday with the KSC (1.30 p.m., in the NDR LiveCenter) on Magdeburg on a relegation rank. In order to consolidate one of the two direct promotion places, a victory against the Badeners would be extremely important. Also and especially for the psyche.
The fact that it plays a major role in the end of the season -more perhaps more than the undoubtedly existing football skills -was clearly recognized in the past two games. Even if Polzin and Co. try to point out of themselves by the mantra -like emphasis of their own principles and strengths. From FC Schalke 04, however, there was a corresponding greeting after the 2-2, which the “royal blue” won against a largely weak HSV in almost 90-minute outnumber: “They start trembling again.”
“You can only achieve something in sports and football if you also feel tension. Otherwise it is about nothing. We know that it is a damn a lot because we are very close to a very big goal.”
-HSV coach Merlin Polzin
Coach Polzin knows about the history of the numerous failed promotion attempts. He could “understand everyone in the HSV environment that is nervous,” said the 34-year-old on the club’s homepage. But: “You can only achieve something in sport and football if you feel tension. Otherwise it is about nothing. We know that it is a damn a lot because we are very close to a very big goal.”
In order to achieve this, in addition to the youngest (self -inflicted) uncertainty, he and his team have to get other construction sites under control: The left side is not as strong as usual due to Miro Muheim’s failure, even if both goals from Emir Sahiti were initiated against Schalke. Hope gives that Nico Oliveira is facing the squad before returning and could be an alternative to the Muheim representative Silvan Hefti, indisposed in the two youngest games.
Many construction sites against Braunschweig and Schalke
The Hamburgers also have to increase their overall team activity with and against the ball. Both against the BTSV and Schalke, the team only managed to push pressure on the opponent on the offensive in short phases, to force high ball gains and to capitalize on them.
And with a view to protecting your own goal, the team has to defend a closed and courageous back. Six goals in two games (after nine goals in eleven encounters in the second half of the season) are too much for a candidate for promotion.
Of course, the almost notorious noise in the club – ticket price -zoff with the fans, the candidacy of Felix Magath as president, the unexplained contract situation around Davie Selke – did not help. But it is crucial, as trigging it sounds as the reaction on the pitch fails. “We have to be aware of what our way is and what we can influence and what is not. This is particularly concerned with the basics and our principles,” said Polzin.
HSV needs more energy again
Because especially against an aggressive opponent like the KSC, who has repeatedly stressed HSV in the past (among other things in the 4: 3 victory in the Volkspark around a year ago), from the perspective of the Polzin team, it will be important to develop more energy from minute one, to accept duels differently and to go to second balls with a greater “lust”. The trainer believes that it is important to “convert this stress into courage and energy.”
All of this with the aim of getting achievements and security (back) early in the game – over the season, the HSV was exactly with these means of keeping the league and the heads fresh and the legs fresh. If this does not succeed, the construction sites in the final sprint of the season could quickly become a full closure on the way to the desired Bundesliga promotion.
The other way around, of course, the following also applies: If the HSV welcomes three points against Karlsruhe, he could get the second and third air in the promotion marathon shortly before the finish. “The Volksparkstadion is not a place on Sunday, it stands for an absolute conviction in its own strengths,” said Polzin on Friday: “We are for Karlsruhe to show what defines us again.” If this flows into a win, the only closures on Sunday would be on the streets of Hamburg. Because of the other marathon.
Possible lists:
Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes – Mikelbrencis, Hadzikadunic, Elfadli, Hefti – Meffert – Karabec, Reis – Sahiti, Selke, Dompé
Karlsruher SC: White – Kobald, Franke, Beifus – Pinto Pedrosa, Burnic – Jensen, Rapp, Wanitzek – Ben Farhat, Conté
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Sports club | 04/27/2025 | 10:50 p.m.
