Pre-match report
12.05.19
Time to make it three
HSV meet SC Paderborn on Matchday 33, and want to get their third win of the season against the side from eastern Westphalia.
They did it on 9th December 2018. The same happened on 2nd April 2019. The third could come tomorrow afternoon (K.O. 15:15 CEST), when HSV play SC Paderborn for the third time this season. The clashes between the two sides have already had a distinct impact on HSV's season, with December's win meaning die Rothosen won their final home game of 2018, and April's win meaning Hamburg progressed to the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal. Courage is not the only thing that gets you results but also the convincing manner in which you prevent yourself from conceding goals. Coach Hannes Wolf spoke about the positive attitude towards the fixture: “It’s a fact that we’ve already beaten Paderborn twice this season. The Pokal game is still quite recent. We will do everything we can to do it a third time,” said the 38-year-old in yesterday’s press conference.
Captain Aaron Hunt could return
The chances of a third victory against Paderborn this season will naturally improve if Rothosen captain Aaron Hunt is able to play at the Benteler-Arena on Sunday. Hunt returned to team training this week and is back in the matchday squad after missing last weekend's home defeat to FC Ingolstadt as a result of back problems. Regardless of whether he features on the pitch, the 32-year-old midfielder will still play an important role by displaying his "leadership qualities" according to HSV head coach Hannes Wolf, who included Hunt in his thoughts during this week. "We wanted to have Aaron as a point of contact to use all his experience. It should be clear to him that there is potential for him not only in the coaching team but also in the squad. We have strengthened his position once more." The leadership role in the central midfield position is extremely important. Orel Mangala, who regularly plays in this position, picked up a muscle injury on Tuesday and so the Belgium U21s player will be out for two to three weeks. Die Rothosen have played seven games without Mangala and have not won a game without him in the team (three draws, four losses). A victory in Paderborn would mean HSV would at least climb up to third and the final game of the season against MSV Duisburg (19/05/19, 15:30 CEST) would be a huge game depending on results elsewhere.
Paderborn in good form
HSV will be facing a tough test in a Paderborn side that is in good form. From the previous seven games, Sunday’s hosts have picked up 16 points (5 wins, one draw). Last weekend’s defeat to rivals Arminia Bielefeld put an end to their unbeaten run. Paderborn have only lost more than once to two teams this season: HSV and St. Pauli. Therefore, the HSV may have a glimpse of hope despite the current form of the two teams. However, the past doesn’t guarantee anything and the only way the Rothosen can be successful tomorrow will be with a strong performance if they want to make it three wins from three.
HSV squad:Goalkeepers: Pollersbeck, Mickel, Behrens; Outfield: Arp, Bates, Douglas, Hunt, Janjicic, Jatta, Jung, Köhlert, Lacroix, Lasogga, Narey, Özcan, Sakai, Vagnoman, van Drongelen, Wintzheimer
Potential Paderborn starting XI: Zingerle - Dräger, Schonlau, Hünemeier, Collins - Vasiliadis - Pröger, Klement, Antwi-Adjej - Zolinski, Michel