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Hertha BSC faces relegation
Photo: FABRIZIO BENSCH / REUTERS
Scene of the game:
After 57 mostly hair-raising minutes, a goal was scored, as it had to be in the game so far.
Miro Muheim put the ball on the left wing to Ludovit Reis, who started, and his cross grew longer and longer and changed from cross to shot on target, which hit the second post.
HSV was in the lead, the duel was finally on.
Result:
Bundesliga club Hertha BSC lost the first leg of the relegation 0:1 (0:0) against second division club Hamburger SV.
Here is the match report.
First half:
It was an even game.
So one when both teams crouch down and look each other in the eyes there.
There were no chances to score, and very few successful moves.
As soon as a player came under pressure, he got rid of the game equipment in a rustic way, the crosses and passes in the last third of the attack had some slapstick quality.
Okay, Robert Glatzel headed a cross into the side netting (40th minute), that's it.
To put it politely: The first of four relegation periods was dedicated to getting to know each other.
After a handball by Peter Pekarik, Hamburg demanded a penalty, referee Harm Osmers decided against a penalty after viewing the video images because HSV player Maximilian Rohr was also believed to have had his hand on the ball in the run-up to the Pekarik action.
A tricky decision that did not bring a 100% satisfactory result.
Coach on the attack:
HSV coach Tim Walter shone before the game with "We didn't feel like fourth place, so we thought, 'Let's do it differently'" - flippantness, his opponent Felix Magath seemed badly moved that his prophesied relegation constellation has really come true.
As soon as the ball rolled, however, that was the end of the sophistication, as both coaches swept up in their coaching zone, clapped encouragingly, grumbled, and worked on the fourth official.
It's relegation, baby.
Second half:
As expected, HSV continued to have more possession of the ball and acted bravely, in line with the coaching DNA.
But Hertha also scored a first goal after Stevan Jovetić was brought in (56th).
Then HSV took the lead (57'), Daniel Heuer Fernandes prevented Ishak Belfodil from equalizing (61').
It was to remain the only chance for the Berliners, HSV controlled the game against a host who presented himself completely out of character.
Legend on the wrong side:
The player Magath was German champion three times with HSV, he scored in the final of both of Hamburg's European Cup victories, he worked as a coach and manager for the club.
And now the 68-year-old club legend wants to spoil his former love's return to the Bundesliga's traditional home.
It doesn't feel right
The wrong feeling could be mitigated by financial matters: the champion coach from 2005, 2006 and 2009 is said to receive a seven-figure relegation bonus.
At Hertha, the million doesn't matter anymore.
Danish debut:
Marcel Lotka, the Hertha goalkeeper who was flushed into the Bundesliga goal from the amateur team, broke his nose and suffered a concussion against BVB last weekend.
That gave the 19-year-old Dane Oliver Christensen his debut in German professional football.
Spicy: Before he moved to Berlin, HSV also tried to get him.
Hertha paid around three million euros for the keeper, who didn't look happy when Reis scored.
One of many, many commitments from Berliners that has not (yet) paid off.
Phlegm and concept:
After the goal, the Berliners' legs got heavier and heavier, defensively they ran behind a lot.
Whatever plan Magath may have had, it didn't work out.
HSV played as usual: In the current second division season, they had by far the most possession (62 percent) and, thanks to their high positioning, conceded the fewest goals (35) and the fewest defeats (six).
Decision in the second leg:
Who will take 18th starting place in the Bundesliga season 2022/2023 will be decided on Monday.
Then the two clubs meet in the second leg (8.30 p.m., TV: Sat.1).
The statistics speak for Hertha: In eight of the last nine duels between the Bundesliga and the second division, the higher-ranked team prevailed.
The first leg result speaks for HSV.