Gisdol’s first return game

Three possible Mavraj replacements

The stats back him up. After Gisdol moved to Hamburg his side took a solitary point from a possible 15 in his first five games in charge. Since his measures were introduced however HSV have taken a creditable 19 points from a dozen matches. So the home side on Sunday are more or less starting from scratch again. But with one major difference: this time the team is competitive and especially strong at home in recent games. HSV won three (Augsburg, Schalke, Leverkusen) and drew 2 (Bremen, Freiburg) of their last five home games. Hertha visit the Volksparkstadion on Sunday evening (05.03.17, 5.50 PM) with an away record which leaves a lot to be desired. The capital city side have only managed 9 points from 11 games on their travels. Only Schalke (0 away wins) and Darmstadt 98 (no win) have a worse away record in the Bundesliga. Hertha did manage two wins over relegation-threatened Ingolstadt (2:0) and VfL Wolfsburg (3:2): “Hertha are currently in fifth place on 37 points. That says a lot about them. They are a very disciplined unit, are stable and especially good at defending a lead”, explained Gisdol this week.

The coach is without first choice central defender Mergim Mavraj on Sunday. The defender ruptured a tendon in his left knee during the 1-2 DFB Cup home defeat to Galdbach earlier in the week. Gisdol: “Of course it is bitter. He is a good man on and off the pitch.” He told the media at the pre-mach press conference in Hamburg this week: “We will find a good alternative.” Gisdol could welcome back fit again former skipper Joan Djourou to the fold. But Gideon Jung and Albin Ekdal are also keen to play. Gisdol said of Jung and Ekdal: “They proved before the winter break that they are serious contenders for central defence.”