Team

Final game of the year against Frankfurt

Saturday’s game at the Volksparkstadion against Eintracht Frankfurt (15:30 CET) is set to be the final game of 2025 for the Rothosen. Merlin Polzin’s side will look to cap off what has been a special year in style in front of a home crowd.

For the final time this year, HSV fans will get to watch their side at the Volksparkstadion, with the visit of Eintracht Frankfurt this Saturday. It’s been an unforgettable year for the Rothosen which peaked in mid-May with the confirmation of their promotion back to the Bundesliga. Seven months later, HSV sit in 14th place in the top flight, having won 15 points from 14 matches so far. “For us it’s about development, which we’re clearly doing. We’re getting better and more competitive all the time, but there will always be setbacks along the way, which Hoffenheim showed us,” explained head coach Merlin Polzin on his side’s defeat at the weekend. His side now turn their attention towards this weekend’s challenge in the form of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Polzin and his side with full focus on the final game of the year.

A busy Volkspark to start the week

Merlin Polzin and his side began the week with intensity as they prepare for this weekend’s game, with 24 outfielders and four goalkeepers – Daniel Heuer Fernandes, Daniel Peretz, Hannes Hermann and Colin Poppelbaum (U21s) – taking part in training, while two others worked individually. The Rothosen began with jumping and strength tests before heading out onto the pitch in the afternoon. Emir Sahiti was back in full training, having missed the Hoffenheim game due to illness. Daniel Elfadli made his return at the weekend after four weeks out and was in full training today, while Nicolai Remberg’s suspension for accumulation of yellow cards was served against Hoffenheim. Both players are therefore available for the weekend. Gui Ramos has come down with a cold and so didn’t train, while Warmed Omari and Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit completed their rehab programs in the gym. Academy players Shafiq Nandja, Louis Lemke and Thierry Sedlatschek also joined first-team training.

Merlin Polzin: “It’s enjoyable to frustrate these kinds of teams”

Robert Glatzel and Jean-Luc Dompe worked individually alongside rehab coach Sebastian Capel, focusing on running drills and ball work. “It’s still early in the week and there’s a few days to go until the match. It’s an issue Jean-Luc has had for quite a while. It’s not good that it’s still causing him pain. We’ll see how things go and make the best of things,” said Polzin on the Frenchman’s fitness. Whether or not the 30-year-old winger will feature against Frankfurt will be decided later on in the week. HSV’s head coach knows the challenge that Dino Toppmöller’s Frankfurt side will present at the weekend: “Frankfurt are in the Champions League, we’re the newly promoted side – the roles are clearly defined. It’s enjoyable to frustrate these kinds of teams,” said Polzin with a smile. There’s been much cause for celebration at the Volksparkstadion recently, with big wins coming against VfB Stuttgart and Werder Bremen. The Rothosen will be hoping to add another three points to their Bundesliga tally this weekend.