HSV brush Aue aside for statement win at the top

Wintzheimer caps powerful HSV start with opener

Daniel Thioune made a number of tactical and personnel changes, switching up from a 4-5-1 system from the 1-0 success over Fürth the previous Saturday to a 3-5-2, with Jatta, Kittel and Ambrosius coming in for the rested Onana, the injured Dudziak and the suspended Leistner. The visitors had problems to adjust to this new formation, Kittel and Jatta in particular enjoying a lot of space to find their way into the game. The Violets were barely able to gain a foothold in the opening exchanges, rushed and harried whenever the Rothosen relinquished the ball, forced to play long, inaccurate balls that ended up back with their hosts. The pressure had been high but the opening goal in the 17th minute was the Rothosen's first effort on Martin Männel's goal, a beautiful team move putting Hamburg into the lead. The play was switched to Sonny Kittel, who backheeled leisurely into the path of Khaled Narey, striding forward and striking a sumptuous ball across the face of Männel's goal, which Wintzheimer merely had to tap in at the far post.

The pressure relented around the half-hour mark, Aue's passing becoming more accurate and energy possibly lacking from the Rothosen given their earlier exertions. Given the Violets' territorial gains, Sven Ulreich remained untested and towards the end of the half the hosts could have extended their lead. Bakery Jatta's pace and directness was proving too much for the guests' defence, a sharp delivery from the Gambian just evading Simon Terodde and cleared with little conviction by Cacutalua at the back post. Khaled Narey continued where he had left off in Fürth, proving a nuisance all half, and should have doubled his goal tally for the season three minutes before the break, turning and taking the ball with him beautifully in one motion, only to hit his effort straight at Männel. The Rothosen went into the break deservedly in the lead.