Quick starters duel at the Volksparkstadion

Focus on the visitors

Having finished the 2019/20 season in a very credible seventh position, Aue and Schuster were looking to build on the foundations laid over the last few seasons. The club have been on an upward trajectory ever since narrowly avoiding relegation to the third tier in 2017/18, winning the relegation play-off against Karlsruhe under the tutelage of current HSV assistant manager Hannes Drews. However, the new campaign got off to the worst possible start, losing away to fourth division Ulm in the first round of the DFB Pokal. An opening day 3-0 away win to Würzburger Kickers particularly pleased Schuster, as the Violets had struggled on their travels last term, St. Pauli being the only team who had picked up less points than them away from home in the division. A 1-1 draw at home to Greuther Fürth followed before the initial date for the game at the Volksparkstadion, which was cancelled due to two positive coronavirus test results amongst the Aue squad. The first game back after the international break on Sunday saw Schuster’s men record a 2-1 win over Heidenheim at the Erzgebirgsstadion to move to seven points from three games played.

Rotation key as Dudziak added to injured list

The HSV coaching staff will have been pleased with the performance on Saturday in Fürth, securing a third win in three to equal the best start to a campaign in 46 years. Having dug in to see the win over the line with 10 men after Toni Leistner’s 53rd-minute sending off, Daniel Thioune saw room for improvement, particularly in an attacking sense when commenting on the game at Monday’s pre-match press conference. “We need to be clearer in our positions on the pitch and increase the quality of passing. Especially with the pressure from Fürth we played the ball long too early for my liking, and didn't use our chances to counter.” Whilst the only goal of the game was expertly taken by Khaled Narey after silky build-up play from Simon Terodde, the Rothosen had few chances of note, particularly in the second half, and will aim to be more effective from open play on Wednesday. 

Thioune will have to be creative again with his starting line-up, the win in Fürth not without its casualties, Jeremy Dudziak landing awkwardly on his shoulder, the chances of the Tunisian playing on Wednesday were branded ‘very unlikely’ by the 45-year-old. David Kinsombi, Josha Vagnoman and Tim Leibold all returned to the training pitch this week and a return against Würzburg on Saturday could be possible, but Thioune also ruled out the trio making an appearance on Wednesday. Toni Leistner’s red card in Franconia means the defender will be missing for the next two home games, but could be replaced at centre-back by Stephan Ambrosius, who has completed his period of quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus and returned to training on Monday.