How HSV can win the north derby | OneFootball

HSV and Werder Bremen will meet in the Bundesliga for the first time in 2844 days this coming Sunday. The match holds significant importance for both sides.

There are certain games that can swing the mood extremely positive or negative depending on the outcome. HSV was on an emotional high just a week ago when they defeated VfB Stuttgart with a last-minute goal despite being a man down. However, they suffered a major setback in the DFB-Pokal during the week. A disappointing performance led to their exit against Holstein Kiel.

The Storks remained unbeaten in their seventh visit to the Volkspark. Such a positive record is something Werder Bremen cannot boast of at this venue, although they did win the last Northern derby – held under second division and COVID conditions – 3-2 in Hamburg. SVW spent only one year in the second tier and has long been re-established as a top-flight team.

Many Transition Moments for HSV?

HSV aims to develop in that direction. They enter the 158th official edition of the Northern derby as slight underdogs given the circumstances. Nevertheless, there are indeed chances to win the match. Werder Bremen – where Horst Steffen took over from Ole Werner in the summer – has collected four more points so far but has appeared quite shaky in some matches.

Under former Elversberg coach Steffen, SVW adopts a very playful approach, trying to reach the opponent's goal through flat combination play. As a result, 63 percent of their goals have come from structured attacks. In comparison, the Bundesliga average is only 48.2 percent. For the Red Shorts, it's about not letting the rival gain momentum.

Nur die Raute – All News about HSV

After promotion, the coaching team around Merlin Polzin shifted the playing style from possession to pressing-intensive transition football. Therefore, HSV should aim to create a highly competitive encounter through aggressive pressing. This has the advantage of making it difficult for Werder to get into their rhythm, while Bundesliga players tend to make more mistakes under opponent pressure.

For instance, SVW, which was outsmarted by Heidenheim and Mainz, loses the ball 50 times per game in their own third of the field, ranking 17th in the Bundesliga. Thus, transition moments will repeatedly arise. These need to be exploited through clean execution at high speed, which HSV managed very well in their home game against bottom team Mainz (4-0). Back then, double scorer Rayan Philippe stood out, although he has recently been reaching his limits more often.

High Hopes in Dompé

Speed alone is not enough to succeed in the Bundesliga. The not-so-fast Emir Sahiti – one of the few bright spots after being substituted in the Kiel game – would bring other qualities that could help his team against Werder. The right-footer is a playful and tricky player who is not strictly tied to the wing but frequently moves into the half-spaces to combine.

These skills could prove helpful in converting the inevitable counter-chances into clear scoring opportunities. Furthermore, the right wing has the task of relieving key player Jean-Luc Dompé. Only if both sides pose a threat can the Frenchman be isolated and brought into one-on-one situations through smart shifts.

Photo: IMAGO

Dompé, who became an active asset against Kiel, is known for his great qualities. Last week, another left winger already put SVW in great difficulty. Cologne's rising star Said El Mala repeatedly challenged Yukinari Sugawara – especially when he received no support from his teammate – and initiated the 1-1 equalizer with a strong run.

Moreover, a present center forward is needed to capitalize on potential crosses from Dompé. Ransford Königsdörffer delivered weak performances even after ending his goal drought and posed no scoring threat, as he was easily outmaneuvered by nearly every opponent. Robert Glatzel scored his first goal of the season against Stuttgart but was injured shortly after and is out for the rest of the year.

Therefore, Polzin, who can at least recall the perpetually injured captain Yussuf Poulsen to the squad, likely has no choice but to start Königsdörffer again. He could become a crucial factor but must improve in all aspects. Only with a fully functioning offense is a derby victory within reach.

Photo: IMAGO

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.