Match Preview
15.07.22
Match Preview vs Eintracht Braunschweig
We are back! On Sunday we head to Niedersachsen to take on newly promoted side Eintracht Braunschweig in the season opener!
Following the chaotic end to the 2021/22 season, the new season has come quickly upon us once more. It doesn’t feel too long ago that we were facing off with Hertha Berlin in the eventful two legged play off back in May. The season is back now and HSV are gearing up for their season opener against newly promoted Eintracht Braunschweig. These two former German Champions will face off this Sunday afternoon to open what will surely once again be an exciting 2. Liga season.
Our Opponents:
The Lions from Niedersachsen won promotion to the 2. Liga last time out finishing in the second of the two promotion places behind champions 1. FC Magdeburg. The side, guided to promotion by trainer Michael Schiele have recruited no fewer than seven new signings for their return to the second tier of German Football. Friendlies are usually not the most accurate representation of how a teams season could unfurl, a 30-0 aggregate score in their opening three matches of the pre season providing further evidence of this. Although Schiele’s side did manage to take down European competing side Union Berlin last week. These two former German Champions will face off this Sunday to opener what will once again be an exciting 2. Liga season.
HSV Round Up:
HSV head into the season opener on the back of some decent friendly performances and results, including the 5-1 victory over top flight Swiss side, FC Basel. A healthy training camp in the Steiermark region of Austria helped head coach Tim Walter and his team prepare for another tough and challenging 2. Liga Campaign. Sunday could see a few new faces in the squad with new signings Laslo Benes, Ransford Königsdörffer and Filip Bilbija impressing in friendlies. Throw in a few returnee’s including English winger Xavier Amaechi and Stephan Ambrosius, suddenly Walters squad is looking very settled already. The long term injury lists stays the way it is Anssi, Baka and Elijah remaining on the side-lines for the moment.
Match Facts:
Fifth attempt for HSV
After being relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in 2018, Hamburger SV are aiming for promotion to the top flight for the fifth time. In the previous season, the Red Shorts, third in the table, narrowly failed to qualify for promotion against Hertha BSC (1:0 A, 0:2 H). Under Tim Walter's leadership, 60 points in the 2021/22 season was the best figure in the history of the Rothosen in the second division. This is now to be built on with the same coach and a clearly formulated goal. "We want to get promoted!" is not least the clear message from captain Sebastian Schonlau.
Clear philosophy
HSV is unwaveringly continuing on its chosen path of building on players with prospects: In the pre-season, Hamburg had the youngest team in the 2. Bundesliga with an average age of 24.6 years. The four newcomers Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer (20), Filip Bilbija (22), Matheo Raab (23) and Laszlo Benes (24) fit the pattern just as well as the loan returnees Xavier Amaechi (21), Robin Meißner (22), Aaron Opoku (23) and Ogechika Heil (21) and in the successful preparation (2:2 vs. Hajduk Split, 4:3 vs. Aris Thessaloniki and 5:1 vs. FC Basel). At the same time, the youngsters have once again lowered the age average (23.7), even though this "only" means third place in the league comparison behind FC St. Pauli (23.4) and SpVgg Greuther Fürth (23.6).
On with the "Walter Ball
In his first season as HSV coach, Tim Walter gave the Rothosen an unmistakable and very own idea of play. With the often-cited "Walter Ball", Hamburg recorded the highest possession (62.2 per cent), the best goal ratio (+32) and the fewest goals conceded (35) of all second division teams. Keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes (photo), who was also voted "HSV Player of the Season", played a decisive role in this signature. It is only logical that the courageous path should be continued. Since Bruno Labbadia (2015/16 and 2016/17), no other coach before Walter went into the following season as coach of the Red Shorts after a complete HSV season.
Where to Watch?
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