Pre-Match Report
11.03.17
Second meeting after 11 days
After recently narrowly losing to Borussia Mönchengladbach in a DFB Cup quarter final tie, HSV hope to go one better as the teams meet again at the Volksparkstadion. This time there are three crucial points at stake on Bundesliga matchday 24.
At home under the floodlights again. HSV take on in form Gladbach just 11 days after losing to them at home in the DFB Cup. On March 1st Gladbach left the Volksparkstadion after beating the Rothosen 2-1 to progress to the semi-finals of the cup. On Sunday (12.03.17, 5.30 PM) the teams meet again, this time in the Bundesliga: “Gladbach are in good shape and are on a good run”, Rothosen coach Markus Gisdol told the press at the official pre-match press conference held in Hamburg on Friday. With fifteen points since the winter break to their name, Gladbach have the best record in Germany’s top flight. The “Foals” as Gladbach are known are unbeaten in 8 games away from home in all competitions. Gisdol is however not unduly worried. He said on Friday: “We took a lot of positives from our cup encounter and we will make the adjustments needed. We are keen to end their run of success and take something from Sunday’s game.”
Good home record
Gladbach’s fine record apart, there are further stats which go in favour of Gisdol’s men. The Rothosen are unbeaten in their last four games against Gladbach (2 wins and 2 draws) and have kept 27 clean sheets against them, over the years – more than against any other team. Add to that the fact that the Rothosen are currently on a six-game unbeaten Bundesliga home run (4 wins and 2 draws).
Müller doubtful
Gisdol has the rare luxury of being able to pick his starting eleven from an almost full strength squad. Only defender Mergim Mavraj is out with a ruptured tendon in his knee. Gideon Jung who played alongside Mavraj in the recent home win over Hertha is fit again as is former skipper Johan Djourou. One of them is expected to line up alongside Papadopoulos in central defence. There is however a question mark hanging over Nicolai Müller who had had a cold this week. Should he miss out Kostic will be his likely replacement.
Gladbach boss Dieter Hecking is also spoilt for choice ahead of Sunday’s game, although long term injured duo Ibrahima Traoré and Thorgan Hazard have not made the trip to Hamburg. Hecking could ring the changes following his side’s midweek 1-1 draw with Schalke in the Europa League. Christoph Kramer was suspended for that game but is eligible to play in the Bundesliga. It promises to be another good game in Hamburg. Hopefully with the right result for the Rothosen this time around!
Possible line-ups:
HSV (from): Adler, Mathenia, Bahoui, Diekmeier, Djourou, Douglas, Ekdal, Gregoritsch, Holtby, Hunt, Janjicic, Jung, Kostic, Lasogga, Müller, Ostrzolek, Papadopoulos, Sakai, Walace, Waldschmidt, Wood
Possible Gladbach line-up: Sommer - Jantschke, Christensen, Vestergaard, Wendt - Kramer, Dahoud - Herrmann, Hoffmann - Stindl, Raffael
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberaspach)