Hamburg SV is grappling with an excess of challenges
In Hannover, Hamburger SV, a lesser league football team, experiences their inaugural loss of the season. The match showcases: Even with the seventh promotion attempt, it won't be an easy feat. Coach Steffen Baumgart is seeking the optimal strategy and battling key absentees in his squad.
Occasionally, Steffen Baumgart can't help but be amazed by his current situation. 50,000 spectators on the first matchday in Cologne, 57,000 fans at the opening home game of Hamburger SV, and then again 49,000 attendees at the North derby in Hannover on Friday evening. That's the second German football Bundesliga. Such arenas were scarcely witnessed in some Champions League groups recently.
Yet it also possesses its difficulties when nine previous champions, including three former European Cup champions, are competing for only two direct promotion spots and a relegation spot: It's incredibly tight, and every vulnerability is capitalized upon. Exactly what transpired for HSV and their coach Baumgart in the 0:1 (0:0) loss against Hannover 96. A couple of absences and several performance flaws resulted in a legally-earned victory through a penalty kick from Jessic Ngankam (49th minute).
"This demonstrates the tightness of this league. This showcases two powerful teams. And this shows that we still have a lot to achieve from a Hamburg perspective," Baumgart mentioned post-match. Hamburger SV has previously failed to secure Bundesliga promotion six times. And the seventh attempt will not be a walk in the park.
Lacking pace due to the absences of Jatta and Dompé
The initial phase, shifting away from the dogmatic high-risk football of his predecessor Tim Walter, Baumgart has long since accomplished in Hamburg. However, for the second phase, establishing his own more compact style, there's still too much lacking at present. Baumgart wishes to play with two robust strikers, but neither Davie Selke nor substitute Robert Glatzel have managed to complete a full 90 minutes yet after their summer injury layoffs. Moreover, with the absences of Bakery Jatta and Jean-Luc Dompé, the game lacked speed in Hannover.
"It's impossible to replace two such players and Daniel Elfadli in midfield overnight, even if the coach claps his hands," said Baumgart. "That's a longer process. And I hope we finish it quickly." A squad as luxuriously stocked as HSV's, considering second division standards, can't compensate for so many absences at once. "That was insufficient for our aspirations," said captain Sebastian Schonlau. Yet, he also reiterated post-match in Hannover: "We were on a fantastic trajectory until then and remain on a fantastic trajectory. The loss will not alter the plan, because the plan is superior."
Model Hannover 96
Following the three direct competitors, 1. FC Cologne, Hertha BSC, and Hannover 96, Hamburger SV will now face the promoted teams Preußen Münster and Jahn Regensburg. That sounds more like the second league of yesteryears. However, those are also the opponents against whom Hamburger SV has consistently lost crucial points recently.
Yet, in Hannover, Hamburger SV could witness how swiftly emotions and trends can change in this tightly-contested league. There, a crisis mood had prevailed for days following the cup defeat against third-tier club Arminia Bielefeld. Through their win in the North derby, 96 even temporarily rose to first place for more than 20 hours. "We invited the criticism and wished to provide an answer to it," said goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler. "There was palpable energy in it."
The second German football Bundesliga, known for its tight competition, poses challenges even for successful teams like Hamburger SV. Hannover 96, a team in the second football league, temporarily took the lead after their win against Hamburger SV, showcasing the unpredictability of the league.
Despite having a strong squad, Hamburger SV struggled with the absences of key players, including Bachery Jatta and Jean-Luc Dompé. The absence of these players significantly affected the team's pace during their match against Hannover 96.
