2. Bundesliga
01.08.23
Building momentum ahead of KSC trip
Following the thrilling opening game against Schalke 04, Hamburg are now tasked with their first away fixture of the season at Karlsruhe on Sunday, which could end up being yet another frantic back-and-forth.
Hamburger SV got their 2023/24 2. Bundesliga campaign underway last Friday in a tense opening encounter with FC Schalke 04. It was a game that had pretty much everything that football has to offer – eight goals, both teams exchanging the lead and late drama, ending in a 5-3 win for the Rothosen. Midfielder Jonas Meffert isn’t alone in thinking that the magical opening night at the Volksparkstadion has helped dispel much of last season’s play-off frustrations. Despite all the emotion, the Hamburg players have been very matter-of-fact with their analysis of the curtain-raiser. After all, the next challenge is already on the horizon – a trip to Karlsruhe at 13:30 CEST on Sunday, 6th August.
The Rothosen don’t expect to be welcomed with open arms in Baden-Württemberg. The 4-2 loss there last season marked the first time in ten years and twelve competitive matches that they had lost against KSC. “It’s rarely a dull affair. The games are always sold-out and it can get a little heated,” acknowledged KSC head coach, Christian Eichner. Speaking to Hamburger Abendblatt, he also added, “The same goes for the technical areas, so we can expect a spicy affair.” It’s sure to be another rollercoaster of a game for Tim Walter’s charges then in the Wildparkstadion, which has recently reopened following years of renovations and now houses 34,000 as a sole-purpose football stadium.
Heyer and Hadzikadunic set to return to training
Not only the recent clash against FC Schalke 04 but also away games last season, where HSV finished as leaders in the away table with 30 points, showed that the Hamburg-based outfit are used to crazy games and tend to maintain the upper hand in most cases. The Rothosen go into their first away game of the 2023/24 season with increased momentum, especially given that the club’s injury concerns look to be improving. However, head coach Tim Walter was without Moritz Heyer (precautionary measure after a clash of heads) and Dennis Hadzikadunic (light training) at the start of the training week today. Despite that, not only the defensive all-rounder, who played as a left-back against the Knappen, but also the new arrival, who had to miss training due to muscular problems, are due to return to team training tomorrow as planned. Miro Muheim, who returned from a calf injury to come on as a substitute against Schalke, was part of team training.
HSV captain Sebastian Schonlau, also recovering from calf issues, was on the training ground to ramp up his individual programme. “With a muscle injury you can’t always predict the healing process completely accurately”, Tim Walter explained after today’s training session during a press conference. “Bascho’s problems lasted slightly longer and he recently had to take a step backwards in the rehabilitation process. However, it’s planned that he is also going to train with the ball at his feet today.” Alongside the captain and long-term absentees Anssi Suhonen and William Mikelbrencis, only Ludovit Reis is currently missing. “Ludo has some time off currently. He had a very short break, so he is on holiday”, Walter explained. The midfielder suffering with a shoulder injury followed the encounter from the stadium on Friday evening with his arm in a sling and cheered along keenly from the sidelines. “What a night – proud of the team”, the 23-year-old Dutchman later posted on Instagram – a message he would surely like to repeat this coming Sunday.