Match Preview
27.08.21
Match Preview vs Heidenheim
HSV make the long trip down to Baden Württenberg to face 1.FC Heidenheim with both looking to get back to winnings ways.
The hosts sit level on points with HSV, both picking up five from the opening four fixtures. Heidenheim recorded their first defeat of the season last time out. A 1-0 defeat inflicted by Hannover 96 last Friday night. HSV of course were held to a draw in a hectic Sunday afternoon matchday with SV Darmstadt 98. Defenders Sebastian Schonlau and Moritz Heyer turning in the goals in the 2-2 draw.
Opponents Focus:
Heidenheim have impressed in recent campaigns, finishing in the Relegation Play-Off spot for the 2019/20 season. Although similar to HSV they haven’t quite hit full gas so far this season. A win over newly promoted FC Ingolstadt was sandwiched between draws against SC Paderborn and Hansa Rostck before Friday nights defeat to Hannover 96. Frank Schmidt has been at the helm for Heidenheim since 2007! An excellent achievement in the modern game. Born and bred in Heidenheim an der Brenz, the head coach as built the team into a strong 2.Liga side.
The hosts have many players to watch out for but most notably their glistening striker Tim Kleindienst who returned the side after a stint in Belgium with KAA Gent. The tall striker standing at 1.94m bagged 11 goals in 15 games during last season’s Rückrunde, as well as two goals so far in this current campaign.
HSV News:
Head coach Tim Walter stated in Thursday’s Press conference that his side will be ready for a team that play intensively and with a lot of heart and soul. HSV will be without the long term injuries of Tom Mikel, Stephan Ambrosius and Josh Vagnoman. Toni Leistner will not be in the squad following his release during the week.
Young Dane, Mikkel Kaufmann will head off to international duty with the U21s in September after receiving a call up this week. While Leo Oppermann and Robin Meißner both signed their first professional contracts with the club until 2024 and 2025 respectively.
MATCH FACTS:
This season, as in the previous season, HSV is a very offensive side. No other team created as many big chances as the Red Shorts (9). The strikers have also fired the most shots on goal in the league (29). Only Regensburg has more different players score (9) than Hamburg (6). But there is still room for improvement in efficiency: While only three teams scored more goals than HSV (8), no team missed as many big chances (6). This is something that needs to be improved.
Tim Walter's offensive style of play means that the defence is still risky. No team has allowed the opponents more big chances (7 times). Only against Ingolstadt have the opponents' strikers scored more often (9 times) than against Hamburg (5 times). And the Red Shirts conceded the most counter-attacking goals (3). This will be one of the big tasks against Heidenheim, who will lurk for exactly these chances.
From the current HSV squad, Robert Glatzel has a Heidenheim past. The striker played for the Brenzstadt side from 2017 to 2019, making 61 competitive appearances during that time and scoring 24 goals (10 assists). "I have a lot to thank the club for," said Glatzel ahead of the duel, which he is very much looking forward to.
Where can I watch the Game?
Austria - Sky Sport Bundesliga 8, Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 7
Brazil – One football
Bulgaria -Play Diema Xtra, Diema Sport 3
Czech Republic - Nova Sport 2, DIGI GO
Hungary - Arena4
Israel - Sport 3
Luxembourg - Sky Go
Russia - Матч! Футбол 3, Sportbox.ru, matchtv.ru
Portugal - Eleven Sports 1
Slovakia - DIGI GO, Nova Sport 2
Slovenia - ŠTV 2
Switzerland - Sky Sport Bundesliga 8, Sky Sport Bundesliga 7
Turkey - beIN CONNECT Turkey