Match preview
23.10.20
Fresh faces Würzburg next up at the Volksparkstadion
Promoted side Würzburger Kickers travel to Hamburg aiming for a scalp in the middle of three consecutive home games for HSV.
Hamburger SV look to maintain their excellent start to the season on Saturday (kick-off 1:00pm CET) at home to Würzburger Kickers, the first ever competitive meeting between the two teams. The sides do not just sit at polar opposite ends of the map of Germany, Würzburg one of the most southerly teams in the division this year and Hamburg second only to Kiel in the north, but also opposite ends of the 2. Bundesliga table after four matchdays. The promoted Kickers have struggled to adjust to life in the second division just yet, suffering from a combination of costly defensive errors and lack of killer instinct in front of goal. That being said, the team from Bavaria pose a threat, particularly with Daniel Thioune’s side having had little time to recover from an exhausting trip to Fürth and exertions on Wednesday night against Aue, and the guests keen to spring a surprise and get their season going.
Focus on the visitors
Founded in 1907 and based in the picturesque town of Würzburg, the Kickers have spent the majority of their existence in the amateur Bavarian leagues. The team from Lower Franconia have been in the 2. Bundesliga twice before, in the southern division in 1977/78 and in the nationwide conference for the first time in 2016/17, both times failing to stay in the second tier for longer than a season. Thanks to investment from local printing firm flyeralarm, the Kickers have managed to establish themselves in the third division in the past five years. The Rothosen as they are known, similarly to their hosts on Saturday due to the red shorts on their home kit, dramatically sealed their return to the second tier on the final day of the 2019/20 3. Liga season, despite having been in 13th position at the half-way mark of the league, captain Sebastian Schuppan scoring in the third minute of injury time to seal the point needed for promotion.
The momentum from promotion hasn’t been carried over into the new season, promotion coach Daniel Schiele sacked after just two winless games of the new campaign. The performance improved under new manager Marco Antwerpen in the 2-2 draw against Greuther Fürth, a game the Rothosen should have won, before a 2-0 home loss to surprise package Holstein Kiel last Sunday. As such, the Kickers sit in last place with one measly point to show for their efforts so far, yet Antwerpen has time to implement his philosophy, with only four games having been played so far.
Opposition scouting report
Rather than sticking with the successful formula which had seen the Rothosen promoted, the Würzburg hierarchy, including former HSV player Felix Magath, opted for a summer of upheaval, 18 players arriving and 20 departing from the Stadion am Dallenberg. A number of key players departed, rising star Luca Pfeiffer heading to Midtjylland and Fabio Kaufmann to fellow promoted side Eintracht Braunschweig. The strategy from Würzburg seems to have been buy in bulk and see what fits, former HSV defender Ewerton and Arminia Bielefeld winger Keanu Staude being added to the mix in Lower Franconia amongst a host of others.
Goals have certainly been hard to come by for the Rothosen so far, having only been able to score in the 2-2 draw with Fürth, and having conceded the most goals in the division, with eight. Antwerpen has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation since his appointment, with 25-year-old striker Dominic Baumann leading the line. The pace of Bakery Jatta and Khaled Narey proved a problem for Aue on Wednesday night, and could be the same on Saturday against Kickers captain Arne Feick at left-back and HSV academy graduate Frank Ronstadt at right-back.
Squad depth key as HSV set five in a row in their sights
Despite a long list of injuries, HSV swept Erzgebirge Aue away on Wednesday night at the Volksparkstadion for the fourth win from four in the league, setting the club record for the best-ever start to a Bundesliga season. The Rothosen still have a way to go to match and beat the record set by Jochen Meinke’s HSV team in 1962/63, who started the Oberliga season with seven straight victories. Nevertheless, Daniel Thioune will have been pleased with the reaction his charges have shown to the cup defeat in Dresden, sitting atop of the 2. Bundesliga table with twelve points, closely followed by northern rivals Holstein Kiel two points behind. A further win on Saturday would set HSV up nicely to end their Volksparkstadion tripleheader with a derby result against St. Pauli next Friday.
As before, Thioune has a number of selection headaches to deal with, Toni Leistner still suspended and Bakery Jatta having injured his adductors in Friday's training session. The coaching staff have a number of additional options in central midfield now, with Amadou Onana rested on Wednesday and David Kinsombi recovered and ready for minutes in the middle. The 45-year-old also confirmed that Jeremy Dudziak won't be ready just yet after dislocating his shoulder last Saturday. On the plus side, Josha Vagnoman and Tim Leibold could enter the fray, having taken part in training since Wednesday. "It will be a challenge not to let up, but you cannot underestimate any team in this league," added Thioune at Friday's press conference. "We want to carry on where we left off on Wednesday."
Matchday facts
- HSV have been highly effective in their attacking play this season, scoring 10 times from 40 shots. Only three teams have had less shots on goal, and 70% of the Rothosen’s attempts have been from inside the penalty area.
- Taking into account their relegation season in the 2. Liga in 2016/17, Würzburg are without a win in the division in 21 games. Only one team has gone longer without a win in the 2. Liga this century, and that was Chemnitz with 24 games in 2000/2001.
- Würzburg have had 54 shots so far this season, resulting in two goals. As such, the most effective attacking team meets the most wasteful on Saturday.
Where can I watch the game?
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, uruguay, Venezuela: OneFootball App
Czech Republic,Slovakia: Digi Sport 1
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden: Viaplay, V Sport 1
Hungary: Sport 2
Israel: Sport 3
Netherlands: Fox Sports 4
Portugal: Eleven Sports 2
Slovenia: SportKlub 4 Slovenia