There is a lot at stake when First Darmstadt welcomes Second Hamburg to the summit of the 2nd division on Saturday (February 25, 2023, 8:30 p.m.).
First against second, a sold-out stadium and floodlights: goosebumps are guaranteed on Saturday evening (from 8.30 p.m., live in the radio report on sportschau.de) when leaders Darmstadt 98 welcome Hamburger SV – more (second division) showdown is not possible !
Table leaders SV Darmstadt against Hamburger SV – that was already in 2022
In February 2022 there was already such a game at the Böllenfalltor in Darmstadt, when the lilies welcomed HSV as front runners to their home game. A memorable game – Hamburg, then fifth, won 5-0 thanks to four goals from striker Robert Glatzel.
HSV finally caught the team of coach Torsten Lieberknecht on the home stretch and grabbed the relegation place in the final sprint. HSV is ready to repeat history. Ten points from the four games so far in 2023 ensure a broad chest.
Possible preliminary decision in the Bundesliga promotion race
The starting position is clear: With a home win at the Böllenfalltor, Darmstadt can distance the first pursuer by seven (!) points and take a big step towards promotion. HSV, on the other hand, wants to get very close to the lilies with a threesome and make the longed-for Bundesliga return a lot more likely at the fifth attempt.
The guests from Hamburg push the role of favorites to the opponent. But “at some point” it will come to that, said HSV coach Tim Walter at the match day press conference, that the Darmstadt series of 20 second division games without defeat will break: “Our goal is to go there, hurt the opponent and take the three points.“
SV Darmstadt 98 remains modest
Of course, Darmstadt’s central defender Christoph Zimmermann wants to prevent that and emphasizes: “It’s our job this weekend to present ourselves just as well as we have done over the past few weeks.“But the Darmstadt team hasn’t (yet) put the word “promotion” in their mouths – despite their super series and currently eight points ahead of the relegation rank.
“That’s not our approach“said attacker Phillip Tietz last: “We look from week to week. Because if you look too far into the future, you can be disappointed more quickly if things don’t work out.“
Hamburger SV dreams of a promotion party
The Hamburg dialect, on the other hand, is much more self-confident – at least that of sports director Jonas Boldt. In the podcast “What’s the situation?” he also commented on the upcoming top game: “We want to go home with the points and help keep things exciting.“The Ascension Be”a big goal“, so Boldt. For HSV it is “an incentive to throw a big party in Hamburg in May“.