"Warrior" spirit: HSV fans celebrate their unsung hero! | OneFootball

Just like in the 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund, Nicolas Capaldo was one of the decisive players against VfB Stuttgart. And this despite other players dominating the headlines.

The 27-year-old Argentine once again confirmed why sporting director Stefan Kuntz described him in the summer as a "player with a lot of energy, mentality, and temperament."

Capaldo won five out of eight duels and intercepted a total of five balls. These are undoubtedly impressive numbers, though they only reflect part of his performance. Particularly memorable is his action in injury time: Capaldo recognized VfB's planned free-kick trick, won the ball, and quickly initiated the decisive counterattack, which Fabio Balde and Fabio Vieira polished off for a 2-1 victory.

This scene was celebrated by HSV fans on social media. A prominent comment read: "He worked like an Argentine guinea pig." The term "battle pig" was also frequently seen.

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HSV has a warrior!

But Capaldo impressed not only with this decisive moment. Several times, he launched a long sprint from central defense to put VfB keeper Alexander Nübel under pressure in his own penalty area. You can't show more commitment than that!

Originally signed as a central midfielder, Capaldo has now established himself as a right center-back in the three-man defense. There, he delivers exactly what the club and fans expected from his signing.

"I am a player who brings a lot of energy to the game and gives 100 percent every minute," the Reis replacement explained at his introduction. "You are getting a warrior," he promised the fans. Against Stuttgart, he once again provided the perfect proof of that.

With Capaldo, HSV not only has a fighter but also a true match-winner. Even if he often operates outside the major media spotlight.

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