The news of SV Darmstadt 98’s missed promotion may have triggered mixed feelings at Hamburger SV. Because it was HSV’s city rivals, FC St. Pauli, who spoiled the possible premature promotion celebrations for the leaders of the second division on Saturday evening. At the same time, St. Pauli made it back in the promotion race with a 3-0 win in Darmstadt and, three games before the end of the season, moved up to four points behind their big Hamburg neighbors in third place in the table.
For HSV, the football weekend had already started with a disappointment. After the 2-2 win against SC Paderborn on Friday evening, an extension of the season with participation in the relegation like last year (back then against Hertha BSC) is becoming more and more likely – but that’s not certain either. “We got a point today. But that’s not what we aim for,” said HSV coach Tim Walter. “We have three games and still have everything in our own hands.”
That’s right. Especially since second-placed 1. FC Heidenheim failed to break away from HSV on Sunday and had to settle for a 0-0 draw against 1. FC Magdeburg. The Heidenheimers struggled in front of 15,000 spectators in their sold-out arena, especially in the first half. After the break, they gained an overweight, but didn’t reward themselves.
Nevertheless, FCH still has every chance of direct promotion – to the annoyance of HSV. Because unlike a year ago, achieving relegation would at best be the minimum goal for Hamburg. The claims that those in charge of what felt like the first division club suggested with their statements throughout the season were different.
Düsseldorf and St. Pauli still have chances
Darmstadt 98 (64 points) is no longer an issue despite the defeat against FC St. Pauli with a seven-point lead with nine points still up for grabs for HSV (57). Intercepting 1. FC Heidenheim in second place is still mathematically possible with a four-point difference for Hamburg, but it’s difficult enough. It is important for them to successfully defend their promotion relegation place.
Fourth-placed FC St. Pauli (53) and Fortuna Düsseldorf (53) put pressure on from behind. Düsseldorf defeated Holstein Kiel 3-0 on Saturday afternoon and also worked towards the relegation rank. Next weekend Düsseldorf and St. Pauli will face each other in a direct duel.
Direct promotion is the goal “while it’s still possible,” said HSV midfielder Jonas Meffert. But mentally the players are apparently already thinking about the additional games for promotion. “Relegation is also a way to get promoted. Then you have two games and it’s back in your own hands,” said captain Sebastian Schonlau.
Hamburg’s draw against Ostwestfalen – who had arrived before the matchday with a small hope of promotion – gave Darmstadt 98 the opportunity to return to the Bundesliga after six years by beating FC St. Pauli.
“At some point you realized that today is not a happy day for us,” said Darmstadt coach Torsten Lieberknecht. “Wipe your mouth, keep going, stay stable.” With a smile, he wished his colleague Fabian Hürzeler from FC St. Pauli “all the best for the further build-up of pressure from the position you are in now”.
Hope is alive again in the team of 30-year-old Hürzeler. “The fact that you beat the leaders like that speaks for a team that wants to play at the top and deserves it,” said Leart Paqarada. “We’re going to see what the next few weeks will bring. There will be cool games.”
However, the remaining program of HSV seems to be easier than that of the city rivals. The Hamburgers are guests of the relegation-threatened teams of Jahn Regensburg and SV Sandhausen. The last home game is against Greuther Fürth. FC St. Pauli has to play against Fortuna, who has the same number of points, next Saturday (8.30 p.m. / Sport1 and Sky). Meanwhile, HSV captain Schonlau emphasized: “We fight, we fight, we work – but there is one thing we will not do: And that is give up.” (dpa)
