“Not so pleasant” – HSV women face a tough year-end spurt

AUDIO: First Cologne, then Bavaria and Wolfsburg: HSV women before the end of the year (2 min)

by Florian Neuhauss

Brancao enjoyed the international break in her own way. The woman from Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, has visited two Christmas markets in the past few days: “I’ve done more in the last two weeks than in the previous four months. It was really nice,” explains the 44-year-old in the NDR interview. Just as she had told her players that they had to use the break to clear their heads, the head coach was finally able to switch off.

Most recently, Brancao completed her UEFA Pro License course in Austria, where she worked until the end of last year. “It was a very intensive time, but I also learned an incredible amount,” she looks back. She had “the right support from the club, the coaching team and also the players”. Nevertheless, she is also relieved that it is over. “Now I can fully focus here.”

Results, table standings and match days at a glance.

Will HSV spend the winter in a relegation zone?

Undoubtedly good news for HSV, as the promoted team has been waiting for a win for seven Bundesliga games now. The only three-pointer so far this season dates from the fourth matchday (1-0 in Leipzig) – and after the game against 1. FC Köln on Monday (6 p.m., in the full audio report in the NDR Livecenter) there are still difficult games this year against champions and league leaders Bayern Munich and Champions League participants VfL Wolfsburg.

“It’s sometimes very unpleasant when you feel this pressure. But I think the season is still long enough – and we’ll still get enough points.”

HSV striker Sophie Hillebrand

There is a risk of overwintering in a relegation zone. The lead over SGS Essen and therefore a relegation zone is now only two points.

The feeling is “not so pleasant,” admits Brancao, but she is combative: “We’re still on the verge of Essen and I hope it stays that way.” In any case, she and her team had already prepared themselves before the season that “we would have to fight until the end.”

Hillebrand is the hope at HSV…

Sophie Hillebrand, a summer newcomer, has emerged as a beacon of hope in recent weeks. With her goals in regular time and in the penalty shootout, the Austrian played a major role in reaching the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup, when the underdog defeated Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen 5-3. And the 23-year-old was also on the list of goalscorers in the most recent 1-1 draw in the league at Union Berlin.

The Hamburg team has better nerves in the duel with their Bundesliga rivals and will move into the round of the last eight with a win on penalties.

“It took me a while to get used to all the circumstances – privately with the long-distance relationship, but also in terms of sport. I now feel extremely comfortable at HSV and in the team. I’m also physically fit. That’s why it’s a lot of fun right now,” she explains her upward trend.

The relegation battle is “unusual” for them after their time in St. Pölten with Brancao, where they celebrated championship and cup wins together. She described feeling negative pressure as “sometimes very unpleasant”. However, she assumes that HSV will not have to worry about staying in the league at the end of the “still long season”.

… and writes football history in Austria

Hillebrand was with the Austrian national team during the international break and made headlines there too. In the World Cup qualifying game against Ukraine (2:3), which was played in Spain, Hillebrand made her team’s 1-0 lead after just 16 seconds on her debut. Never before had an Austrian scored so early in an international match.

“It’s always nice when you can be part of the national team,” said the striker: “I was extremely happy about my goal. It was a cool week.”

Three important games – and there should be something in them everywhere

Now the focus of pro license holder Brancao and record goalscorer Hillebrand is on the game against Cologne. The 2-0 friendly win against the Rhinelanders in summer preparation is encouraging. “We saw that we could keep up. Put everything into it and then we’ll definitely get something out of it,” says Hillebrand.

Liése Brancao has her trainer’s license in her pocket and is an example of self-confidence.

However, the FC women have also gained momentum since then. “Cologne is an opponent who is doing incredibly well,” says Brancao. “You have already scored more points this season than you did all of last season.” After placing tenth in the previous season with only 14 points from 22 games, Cologne is currently in the middle of the table with 15 points from eleven games.

“Even if Bayern and Wolfsburg are in front of us – we always have something planned and want to get something.”

HSV coach Liése Brancao

The respect for the opponent is “extreme,” said the Brazilian soccer teacher. “But we are playing at home and want to win the game.”

And Brancao also expects something in the following matches against the top teams: “Even if Bayern and Wolfsburg are ahead of us – we always have something planned and want to get something.” Especially since she sees her team, which beat VfL 3-3 in the first leg thanks to a Hillebrand goal, on the rise. “We did very well against Leverkusen and in Berlin – in terms of performances, but also in terms of results. We are slowly combining performance and results; and I like that.”

The 3-3 draw in the northern duel of the women’s Bundesliga caused very different feelings. Doubts remain about Hamburg’s late equalizer.