At 00:30 on August 24, the third round of the German Second Division will see Hannover host the established team, Hamburger SV, at the Heinz Field.
Hannover drew 0-0 away against newly promoted Munster Prussia in their second-round match on August 11. The team lined up with young striker Tresoldi as the spearhead, supported by Rösler and Nelson as attacking midfielders, but they failed to make significant progress offensively, with their offensive statistics lagging behind those of their opponents throughout the game. In the first round of the DFB-Pokal held last week, Hannover lost 0-2 away to Arminia Bielefeld with a full-strength squad. After the match, the club’s sports director, Markus Mann, raged, “I can’t take it anymore. We fell asleep trying to control the game. This is sleepwalking football. The team must wake up quickly, and I don’t want to see this again.”
In last season’s German Second Division, Hannover finished sixth with 13 wins, 13 draws, and 8 losses, 11 points short of the promotion playoff zone, yet coach Letellier was still offered a contract extension. In response to Markus Mann’s criticism, Letellier candidly admitted that such criticism was justified during the post-match press conference and faced the loss squarely: “We lost this game, we might lose one or two more. Other teams will also lose; we must learn to handle it better.” However, Hannover’s management made it clear at the start of the season that the club must be promoted, implying that Letellier could face immediate dismissal if he allows the poor form to continue.
In terms of squad availability, Hannover will only be without 27-year-old midfielder Besuschkov for this match, while South Korean winger Lee Hyun-Ju, loaned from Bayern Munich’s youth team, has yet to make an appearance.
Hamburger SV drew 1-1 at home against Hertha Berlin in their German Second Division match on August 11. Despite taking the lead through the goal of this season’s breakout striker Konigsdorf, the team was equalized late on, leaving many fans unconvinced by the team’s performance in their home opener. Looking ahead to the match against Hannover, Hamburger SV coach Baumgart said, “This season, I won’t commit to using the same formation consistently. We aim to solidify our defense, and I want my team to stay brave regardless of the result until the end of the match.”
In the DFB-Pokal match held over the weekend, Hamburger SV thrashed lower-tier team Meppen Sport 7-1 away, temporarily restoring the confidence of disheartened fans. In the match against Meppen, Hamburger SV’s main attacker Ferai scored twice and provided an assist, while young left-winger Balde, from the youth team, also contributed an assist, suggesting that Baumgart, who was a successful Bundesliga striker in his playing days, still has some offensive acumen.
In terms of squad availability, Hamburger SV will be without the services of wingers Gatta and Dongpe for this match. The former suffered an ankle sprain during the match against Meppen Sport and is expected to be out for a month, while the latter was substituted early in the league match against Hertha Berlin. Their absence will leave striker Konigsdorf, who has scored three goals in the first two matches of the season, isolated. Additionally, substitute goalkeeper Rab and new signing midfielder El Fardouli are also unavailable, with Rab sidelined due to pneumonia and unable to join the team.
In the 20 previous encounters between the two sides, Hamburger SV holds a slight advantage with nine wins, three draws, and eight losses. Moreover, they have won four out of the last five meetings, giving them a significant psychological edge. In this round of the league, Hannover and their coach Letellier are in a precarious situation. A loss could push the team into rebuilding mode. Can the visiting Hamburger SV, despite their depleted squad, deliver a decisive blow to their title rivals?
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