After a real lesson at VfB Stuttgart, Hamburger SV almost need a miracle for promotion to the Bundesliga. The third in the second division lost in the first leg of the relegation on Thursday 0: 3 (0: 1) and has to improve massively in the second leg next Monday (8.45 p.m. / Sat.1 and Sky) to somehow still win the Stuttgart team as a Bundesliga club to detach. To make matters worse, Anssi Suhonen, who had just come on as a substitute, saw the red card after a hard, unsportsmanlike foul (69th).
Konstantinos Mavropanos after a few seconds, former HSV professional Josha Vagnoman (51st) and Serhou Guirassy (54th) put VfB in the best starting position with their goals to avert the third relegation since 2016 in the relegation. Guirassy missed a penalty kick (27′), in the first half the dominant Bundesliga club could have scored more goals in front of 47,500 spectators in the sold-out arena. The HSV-Elf coached by Tim Walter, who once had to leave VfB in strife, did not take part in an offensive for a long time.
Mavropanos celebrated his powerful header into the goal exuberantly with his tongue out. In the block of HSV fans who had traveled with them, who had just detonated smoke bombs, it suddenly became very quiet. Last year, Hamburg failed in the relegation to Hertha BSC with ex-coach Felix Magath – HSV conceded a very early goal in the second leg.
HSV goalkeeper saves penalty and prevents even clearer result
From Hamburg’s point of view, things could have gotten worse in Stuttgart earlier when Chris Führich showed up with speed in the HSV penalty area. But goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes parried the shot of the 25-year-old (9th). Stuttgart showed a class difference in their attacks, HSV had great difficulty keeping away the VfB offensive around Guirassy. The 27-year-old striker, who had just signed on permanently from Stade Rennes, was denied by two other huge chances, one from the penalty spot, in the space of minutes by Heuer Fernandes (23′ and 27′). Ludovit Reis caused the penalty. Führich also failed again at the HSV goalkeeper (29th). In the Stuttgart goal, instead of the injured first-choice goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow, there was substitute Florian Müller.
For both clubs, there is a lot at stake in the relegation. The financial cuts for VfB would be in the tens of millions if they were relegated, and HSV definitely want to save themselves their sixth year in the second division. After a good half hour, the guests briefly came dangerously in front of the Stuttgart goal. A shot by Robert Glatzel was blocked (35′).
Hamburg coach Walter: “VfB Stuttgart, great club, against HSV, great club”
HSV coach Walter experienced his extraordinary return full of energy on the sidelines. VfB went into their last second division season with the player from Baden, after just six months Walter had to leave the day before Christmas Eve 2019. “It’s going to be a great game: VfB Stuttgart, a great club, against HSV, a great club,” Walter teased. For the “great club”, Mavropanos missed the next good chance with a header in added time in the first half.
Vagnoman then rewarded Stuttgart after submitting Führich and Enzo Millot. The fans in the Cannstatt curve celebrated loudly, the goal scorer, who was born in Hamburg, visibly held back. Guirassy, who finally scored, finally made the decision in the first leg. Even if Glatzel missed Hamburg’s best chance to date with a header (59′). The Hamburgers improved until the final whistle, but the big burden for the second leg remained.