Defence the key: how HSV can hold firm in Stuttgart | OneFootball

This Sunday at 5:30 p.m., Hamburger SV face VfB Stuttgart away from home. The Red Shorts still need to pick up one or two points in the relegation battle before they can be certain of staying in the league.

Now they are up against an opponent with plenty of quality on the ball and a lot to offer going forward. Of all times, HSV are now missing players like Luka Vuskovic and Albert Sambi Lokonga. Coach Merlin Polzin once again has to improvise, and parts of the lineup more or less pick themselves.

Even so, HSV will of course not travel to Stuttgart and surrender without a fight in any way. There are definitely ways to take something from this match against the Swabians.

HSV: Special focus on the defense

What has defined HSV in the second half of the season is this: they are a very, very unpleasant team to play against. Even in the recent stretch when wins largely dried up, the Red Shorts were never far off. In theory, they always had the chance to get more out of those matches. No one doubts that VfB Stuttgart are the better footballing side. That is why HSV, especially away from home, cannot afford to get involved in an open exchange. Without key players, they would in all likelihood lose that battle.

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That naturally means one thing in return: the defense will be even more important. Without Vuskovic, who has already taken on a leadership role at a young age and can organize his teammates, a lot will depend on compactness. In other words, HSV may need to defend a little deeper and more cautiously than they have recently. That would certainly also take away part of Stuttgart’s own strength.

From a compact and well-structured defense, HSV could then look to launch counterattacks of their own. Fabio Vieira, as the link between defense and attack, will be important here, especially since he naturally has the technical ability to play the decisive passes. That is why it is also quite possible that coach Merlin Polzin will hardly rely on an out-and-out striker in this duel, instead putting much more emphasis on pace. If the setup is right and the team also has a good day, then HSV definitely have a chance to take something from Stuttgart.

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