Berlin / Hamburg (dpa) – relegation games are not for the faint of heart. The traditional clubs Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV, which play for the last free place in the Bundesliga on Thursday and Monday, have already had their experiences.
The Hamburgers twice emerged as lucky winners from the elimination games. The Berliners were involved in a scandal in Düsseldorf ten years ago.
May 15, 2012, Düsseldorf: Hertha’s head coach Otto Rehhagel even feared for his life, the scenes seemed so threatening to the oldie coach. A rush by the Fortuna fans in added time ended a game that had already been plagued by pyrotechnics and riots. Referee Wolfgang Stark did not whistle again when the score was 2:2. Hertha was relegated because the Berliners had lost the first leg 1:2. Enraged Hertha players then attacked the referee. There was a legal aftermath: Only after objections and negotiations before the DFB courts was it clear: Hertha relegation remained. Berlin’s Lewan Kobiashvili received the record penalty of more than seven months. A year later, the Berliners rose again as second division champions.
May 18, 2014, Fürth: HSV is still undelegated. The Bundesliga dinosaur is having a hard time against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. After the 0-0 in the first leg, Pierre-Michel Lasogga provided early relief. But the Franconian second division team hit back with a goal from Stephan Fürstner. You have to tremble until the final whistle. Only the away goals rule that was abolished this season kept Hamburg at 1-1 in the Bundesliga.
June 1, 2015, Karlsruhe: A year later, the fate of HSV seems sealed. KSC leads 1:0. That’s enough after the 1-1 in the first leg for promotion. Then, in the final minute, referee Manuel Graefe whistles a free kick for Hamburg that is still controversial today. Marcelo Diaz scores from the edge of the penalty area. Coach Bruno Labbadia dances in ecstasy. In extra time, Nicolai Müller scored the 2-1 winner. HSV has saved itself again. But it follows three years later as Bundesliga-17. the direct descent – without relegation.