VfB warning to HSV: ‘We haven't forgotten the first leg’ | OneFootball

VfB Stuttgart clearly still has not gotten over the bitter defeat from the first leg against HSV. Ahead of the rematch, the Swabians are eager for revenge.

In the dramatic 1–2 loss at the Volksparkstadion, the Cannstatt side conceded the decisive goal deep into stoppage time. After a completely botched free-kick routine by Stuttgart, Fabio Vieira finished off a counterattack by the Rothosen, who were down to ten men, to seal perhaps HSV’s most emotional win of the season.

This moment still lingers for VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “We haven’t forgotten the first leg. But talk of brutal revenge would be exaggerated. It was a tough moment. We assumed we would either win or draw. And then everyone saw what happened.”

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Hoeneß on HSV: “They’re having a very good season”

But Stuttgart does not have only negative memories of HSV. Hoeneß also looks back on successful meetings with the club from Hamburg, especially the 2023 relegation playoff. “I have only positive memories of that because we pulled it off in the end,” the 43-year-old is quoted by Bild as saying. “It was deserved, and together we came through a real pressure situation.”

One moment in particular still stands out vividly to him today: “I still remember Dinos’ (Mavropanos) header exactly. The stadium exploded, unbelievable.”

Nur die Raute – All the news about HSV

Despite all the dramatic encounters in recent years, the focus is on the current match – and it is a big one. Stuttgart are fighting for the Champions League places, while HSV still need points in the battle to stay up.

Even so, Hoeneß explicitly warns against underestimating Hamburg: “This is a promoted team that is having a very good season. They will secure survival early, and with Merlin Polzin they have a coach who gives the team a clear structure and clear patterns of play. We have to be very alert.”

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