Keep the pressure high in Nuremberg

Focus on the hosts

1. FC Nürnberg are one of Germany’s traditional sides, particularly successful in the early years of the game, and until 1987 were the record German champions with nine national titles and four DFB Pokal victories. Since the 1990s, ‘Der Club’ have been something of a yo-yo team, and after a four-year absence, only survived in the Bundesliga for one season after securing promotion in 2018. Fans of the traditional Franconian side were expecting their team to challenge for promotion straight back to the first tier, but were in for a nasty shock, only surviving in the 2. Bundesliga thanks to a 96th-minute Fabian Schleusener winner in the 2. Bundesliga relegation play-off second leg against Ingolstadt in July.

The hangover from the nightmare 2019/20 season has still not quite dissipated. After three managers last season, former HSV coach Dieter Hecking replaced Robert Palikuća as sporting director and appointed 36-year-old Robert Klauss, who for a decade had been part of the youth set-up at RB Leipzig and is in his premier role as first-team manager. Klauss’ team have been inconsistency personified in the current season, recording five wins, four draws and five losses, were only able to win two games in a row once this season, but also haven’t lost two games on the trot. HSV will be looking to change that and hand them their second loss in a row on Saturday, after a 2-0 reverse to Heidenheim on the opening matchday of 2021 sees Nuremberg enter the match in 11th position on 19 points.

Trio still missing as Mickel returns for HSV

The final day of 2020 had one last shock for Hamburger SV, as Jan Gyamerah (torn ankle ligaments), Klaus Gjasula (torn MCL in right knee) and Amadou Onana (adductor problems) all injured themselves in the final training session of the year, and are still recovering as Saturday’s trip to Nuremberg comes around. There was positive news for the HSV coaching staff this week, as Tom Mickel was able to fully re-join training for the first time since the end of November, whilst long-term absentee Rick van Drongelen could also participate in large swathes of training with the rest of the squad this week. Holstein Kiel’s loss to VfL Osnabrück on Sunday means that the Rothosen retook top spot in the 2. Bundesliga with the fourth win in a row, moving onto 29 points from 14 games. The top of the table is a crowded affair though, only three points separating the top five and Fortuna Düsseldorf back in contention in fifth after five straight victories.