Relegation
VfB Stuttgart shows Hamburger SV the limits
Konstantinos Mavropanos was able to celebrate his 1-0 lead for VfB Stuttgart against HSV in the first minute of the relegation
© Tom Weller / DPA
Less than a minute was played before VfB Stuttgart took the lead against HSV. In the second leg of the relegation, Hamburg have a very difficult task.
Visibly disappointed, Tim Walter pulled on his hoodie and high-fived his dejected HSV pros. After a real lesson at VfB Stuttgart, the Hamburgers need a football miracle for promotion to the Bundesliga. The second division third lost in the first part of the relegation drama on Thursday 0: 3 (0: 1) and has to improve massively in the second leg next Monday (8.45 p.m. / Sat.1 and Sky) to somehow still win the Stuttgart team as a Bundesliga club to detach. To make matters worse, Anssi Suhonen, who had just come on as a substitute, saw the red card after a hard, unsportsmanlike foul (69th).
“It’s hard to put into words,” said sports director Jonas Boldt on Sky, the team got “in the face”. “Today relatively little worked.” It contradicts his nature, “if I give something away. But such an achievement, such a result does not make it any easier. (…) It must be a miracle.”
VfB Stuttgart leads from the first minute
Konstantinos Mavropanos after a few seconds, former HSV professional Josha Vagnoman (51st minute) and Serhou Guirassy (54th) put VfB in the best starting position with their goals to avert the third relegation since 2016 in the relegation. Guirassy missed a penalty kick (27′), in the first half the dominant Bundesliga club could have scored more goals in front of 47,500 spectators in the sold-out arena. Walter’s HSV team, who once had to leave VfB in a strife, did not play offensively for a long time.
Mavropanos celebrated his powerful header into the goal exuberantly with his tongue out. In the block of HSV fans who had traveled with them, who had just detonated smoke bombs, it suddenly became very quiet. Last year, Hamburg failed in the relegation to Hertha BSC with ex-coach Felix Magath – HSV conceded a very early goal in the second leg.
HSV with problems on the defensive
From Hamburg’s point of view, things could have gotten worse in Stuttgart earlier when Chris Führich showed up with speed in the HSV penalty area. But goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes parried the shot of the 25-year-old (9th). Stuttgart showed a class difference in their attacks, HSV had great difficulty keeping away the VfB offensive around Guirassy.
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The 27-year-old striker, who had just signed on permanently from Stade Rennes, was denied by two other huge chances, one from the penalty spot, in the space of minutes by Heuer Fernandes (23′ and 27′). Ludovit Reis caused the penalty. Führich also failed again at the HSV goalkeeper (29th). In the Stuttgart goal, instead of the injured first-choice goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow, there was substitute Florian Müller.
Relegation crucial for both clubs
For both clubs, there is a lot at stake in the relegation. The financial cuts for VfB would be in the double-digit million range in the event of relegation, HSV definitely wants to save itself its sixth year in the 2nd division. After a good half hour, the guests briefly came dangerously in front of the Stuttgart goal. A shot by Robert Glatzel was blocked (35′).
HSV coach Walter experienced his extraordinary return full of energy on the sidelines. VfB went into their last second division season with the player from Baden, after just six months Walter had to leave the day before Christmas Eve 2019. “It’s going to be a great game: VfB Stuttgart, a great club, against HSV, a great club,” Walter teased. For the “great club”, Mavropanos missed the next good chance with a header in added time in the first half.
Stuttgart fans are already celebrating
Vagnoman then rewarded Stuttgart after submitting Führich and Enzo Millot. The fans in the Cannstatt curve celebrated loudly, the goal scorer, who was born in Hamburg, visibly held back. Guirassy, who finally scored, finally made the decision in the first leg. Even if Glatzel missed Hamburg’s best chance to date with a header (59′). The Hamburgers improved until the final whistle, but the big burden for the second leg remained.
