Why HSV’s home game against Augsburg matters so much mentally | OneFootball

Today, Saturday, at 3:30 p.m., HSV host FC Augsburg at the Volksparkstadion. And it will be a very important match for the Rothosen.

The cushion above the relegation playoff spot is there, but it still does not provide complete security. In the end, that only comes once survival is mathematically certain anyway, but a win against Augsburg would already increase the likelihood immensely. 

Despite the good starting position, it is fair to call this a fateful game for HSV. And for good reason, because Augsburg arrive to face the Rothosen on the back of three straight defeats and know themselves that they could still be dragged into the relegation battle if they lose this match and remain stuck in their downward spiral.

The mental side will be decisive for HSV

Of course, for HSV it is about the table, there is no question about that. But one aspect that must not be forgotten against Augsburg, and one that Merlin Polzin surely also has in mind, is the mental, psychological level. If HSV lose at home to Augsburg and one or two rivals pick up points, things suddenly become tight again. And then they would have failed to make use of another opportunity in a home game.

Against Köln, Leipzig and Leverkusen, they recently picked up just one point in total. Even if two of those teams were from the top part of the table: there was more in it. And HSV’s remaining schedule is not an easy one, with Stuttgart, Bremen, Hoffenheim, Frankfurt, Freiburg and Leverkusen still to come. There is the North derby, and otherwise only teams currently placed from third to eighth remain. Of course, HSV have not really been unstable recently, because they have not lost many matches. 

Photo: Getty Images

The crucial point, however, is that a negative run, combined with an ever-shorter remainder of the season and an ever-smaller gap, can also cause a certain mental block. If you lose on matchdays 15 to 18, there is still enough time and no reason to panic. But if you lose three in a row now, then things really start to get serious. And Augsburg are a team well versed in relegation battles and only too familiar with situations like this.

So it is absolutely essential to prevent Augsburg from being allowed to play their mind games with HSV. Time-wasting, easy falls, lots of set pieces: everyone knows it. Everyone knows how Augsburg play. And that style of play can be extremely unpleasant in a relegation battle and in a game like this, where many HSV fans expect a win in the end, one that could have a major impact on their survival chances. So the motto is clear: keep your nerve and win the game. Then they can also put the champagne on ice for the survival party.

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