It’s easy to make jokes that the two former northern giants are now facing each other as second division clubs, for the first time in their history. And of course that was also done, this is how the social networks tick, but this is also how the protective mechanism for injured fan souls works.
But I would like to say to all the crackers and amateur satirists at this point: The character of a decade-long northern derby between Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV cannot be banished, it was felt every second on Saturday evening. It was heated, it really got down to business in the close duels and in the air, it was sometimes confusing – and the atmosphere in Bremen’s Weser Stadium was boiling over. So it was basically: as always. This time with the better end for HSV, who achieved a 2-0 victory on the terrain of their arch-rivals, which will resonate for longer in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg.
The Bremen attacks lack coordination and the structure in the game is gradually being lost
Both clubs want to face reality in the second division with offensive football, this is what Werder coach Markus Anfang stands for, and HSV coach Tim Walter stands for this in an even more radical form. According to the plan, the teams should have a monopoly on the ball and let it run with brisk circulation. So the fans can be taken on the rocky way back to the top, and the fans from Hamburg who had traveled with them were in an emotional high mood after just two minutes: Defensive all-rounder Moritz Heyer crossed from the left to the free-standing striker Robert Glatzel, who hit the ball with his head lifted into the far corner – 1-0 for HSV. But that was only the overture to the events that happened in the first half.
The Bremen supporters, who shot up from their seats with every successful action and every tackle, let the sparks jump over to their team. However, the resulting heat among the players also had its downsides, the attacks lacked coordination, the structure in the game was gradually lost – and in the 31st minute also Bremen’s captain Christian Groß, who, although already warned, was on the hunt after the ball jumped into HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer-Fernandes with both legs. Big saw yellow-red, a clear thing.
Then there were tricky scenes for referee Sascha Stegemann: Werder attacker Marvin Ducksch fell in the running duel with HSV captain Sebastian Schonlau in the penalty area, the Bremen audience demanded penalties and red, but Stegemann let the scene continue and video referee Matthias Jöllenbeck left it at the decision.
Weiser prevented his team from equalizing with a dropout
There was now some frustration from the ranks towards the referees. And frustration turned into foaming anger in the 42nd minute: Werder striker Marvin Ducksch had put a free kick into the net, the Weserstadion shook. Alone: The hit was denied because Werder defender Mitchell Weiser had sneaked into the wall of HSV. A correct decision by referee Stegemann, these are the rules for two seasons now. Weiser had done his team a disservice by this pointless offense, because the free kick was kicked perfectly and would have landed in the goal. “I just didn’t know it. It’s sad. It hurts for the team,” said Weiser. To make matters worse, there was an additional receipt shortly afterwards: Heyer scored the 2-0 for HSV after a cross from Backery Jatta.
Is it all over for Werder? Not at all. At the beginning of the second half, the beginning team ran tirelessly. And the door opened more than a crack when the captain of HSV had to go down: Schonlau let the Bremen attacker Romano Schmid run up shortly before the penalty area, a tactical foul, he also saw yellow-red. So it went on with ten against ten, which is why the Hamburgers were well advised to first think about the reorganization of the until then solid defensive.
Unauthorized in the opposing wall: Mitchell Weiser (second from right) ensures that a Bremen goal is denied.
(Photo: MIS / imago)
HSV coach Walter took striker Glatzel off the field and brought in Ludovit Reis a midfielder who was ready for the ball, which allowed the guests to survive the first pressure waves from Bremen – and remained dangerous even with attack-like counterattacks. The lightning-fast but not always sure-footed Jatta missed the best chance when he appeared alone in front of the Werder goal after a through pass. But the Bremen did not let themselves hang, driven by the tireless fans, they worked out a permanent momentum in the final quarter of an hour.
The HSV was constricted into their own half, there was hardly any relief for the away eleven, whereas the Bremen team missed their chances to hit the next goal. Substitute Niclas Füllkrug missed the best opportunities: Once he hesitated too long and missed the cross pass to his free-standing striker Ducksch, later the outstanding HSV goalkeeper Heuer-Fernandes parried with a defensive foot. The actually powerful offensive Walter-Elf prescribed a Hanseatic catenaccio, they threw themselves into every duel, they also withstood the fire from the stands.
And so it was the HSV fans who were allowed to chant their “Derby Winner, Derby Winner” chants at the end – for the first time in the second division.