Stuttgart and HSV absolutely want to go back to the Bundesliga. For a long time, the two were the top favorites. There are now concerns. Especially in Hamburg.
Stuttgart (AP) - At VfB Stuttgart and Hamburger SV, discomfort is spreading. Because the former Bundesliga clubs on the way from the 2nd league back to the Oberhaus brooded - one more, the other less.
The VfB is second and thus in the limit, the HSV third and therefore beyond planning. Arminia Bielefeld is enthroned at the top and has already lost six or nine points. It seems as if the two former Bundesliga teams have to scramble for the remaining direct promotion spot. Yellow alarm level prevails at HSV in particular.
From the home bankruptcy in the city derby against the unloved neighbor FC St. Pauli (0: 2), the former European Cup winner was thrown off the rails with a smile. "A little something happened," admits coach Dieter Hecking. Consequence: A week later, the team received a solid 0-3 flip at Erzgebirge Aue. "We are in a sporting crisis," complains CEO Bernd Hoffmann. Hecking sees it differently. "If Bernd thinks so," replies the coach. "For me, two defeats are not a crisis."
As proof, Hecking reports from previous coaching stations: "There have been times when I haven't won eight, nine, ten games." Hoffmann will have heard this with horror. After all, the North Germans have been without games for three games and six points behind the identical time of the previous season. In the previous year, the team was fourth, as is well known, which Hoffmann described as the "most unnecessary non-promotion in football history" and attested to the club's sports system to be completely collapsed.
Jahn Regensburg will come to the Volkspark Stadium on Saturday. Hoffmann, fans and also the team are hungry for a win. "No matter how," says Hecking. That's why he and his team rehearsed a new system. The old one didn't work twice, he complains. "You have to worry about that." Regensburg does not seem to suit HSV: three second division games so far, no victory, but a 0: 5 home swatter in the previous season.
VfB will be put to the test on Monday evening. Then comes leader Arminia Bielefeld. If the Swabians lose, Bielefeld would rush to nine points. However, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo does not want to classify the game as a final in the fight for promotion. "I think everything is possible regardless of this game," says the 42-year-old. He now wants to tackle every game as if it were a final. "We are very aware that we only have ten games left to play," said the coach.
The recent defeat at SpVgg Greuther Fürth did not cause unrest among the Swabians, but it did cause a few question marks. Because the 0-2 was reminiscent of the preliminary round under Matarazo's predecessor Tim Walter: First the Stuttgart missed very good chances, then they lost control of the game after the Fürth leadership. "We have to learn from this," says defender Pascal Stenzel.
It had got off to a good start under Matarazzo, who came to VfB during the winter break. VfB had 13 points from five second division games and only allowed one goal. With another bankruptcy against Bielefeld and an HSV victory against Regensburg, it could be just as restless in Stuttgart as now in Hamburg. Because then VfB would slip onto the relegation site.
Schedule HSV
Squad HSV
Table 2. League
Schedule VfB Stuttgart
Squad VfB Stuttgart