The high continues. HSV and FC St. Pauli are on two clouds towards the city derby (Friday, 6.30 p.m., live ticker on MOPO.de), some with tailwind after the cup success in Cologne, others completely intoxicated thanks to the win against Borussia Dortmund. Justified enthusiasm before the showdown in the Volkspark. But be careful: One of the two rivals is threatened with a sensitive crash landing.
As old as this derby is, Hamburg has not experienced a peak of this kind since the days of paid football began in 1963. Both clubs are fighting for promotion, have just taught the Bundesliga to fear and want to crown their week today. But who can really laugh out loud after the game?
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HSV here, St. Pauli there. An ancient duel with a different sign, however. The fifth in the table welcomes the leader from the Kiez. If HSV wins, it is three points behind brown and white. If St. Pauli wins, they pull away to nine points. A game. Simple bills. Huge impact.
St. Paulis Schultz: “HSV is the big club in the city”
Timo Schultz, who was the first of the two coaches to ask for the final verbal duel on Thursday at 9:10 a.m., doesn’t think much of using the table constellation. Instead, St. Pauli’s coach gave the city rivals a tremendous hymn of praise. “HSV remains HSV, that’s the big club here in the city,” said Schultz. “They always aim to be at the top, to get promoted and usually also to play in the first division.” Schultz is certain that HSV will “be there up to the end”. To top it off, the 44-year-old added: “Statistically speaking, they’re already the strongest team in the league. I enjoy watching them play football.”
When Tim Walter asked for the final press conference 84 minutes later, Schultz’s words had long since made the rounds. Yes, yes, thought the HSV coach and smiled. “Thank you for the laurels, I can only give that back. But of course that’s always belly rubbing.” And yet: “The opponent is right where they are. Because they do a lot of things very well.”
HSV coach Walter does not like to talk about St. Pauli
The remarkable thing: they were the only sentences that could be elicited from Walter on the subject of St. Pauli. Otherwise, in an almost obtrusive manner, he dodged all questions that even remotely dealt with the opponent. The message, clear and on display: “We just want to look at ourselves and play our game.”
Nothing else is the marching route of the former Goliath HSV against the former David, who is now at least equal in sport. Just no distraction, especially not by looking at the most recent derby history (four bankruptcies, one draw). “Doesn’t get us any further,” says Walter.
St. Pauli won the first leg against HSV 3-2
He still had a warning ready for the opponent. The 46-year-old was asked what lessons could be learned from the first leg, which HSV lost 3-2 in mid-August. His response: “None at all. We have evolved, our game has improved and we have changed.”
Schultz also sees it that way, but still refers to the game at Millerntor. His team had “built up stress, that can also be the goal this time”. And: “If we bring our strengths to the pitch, we can influence the direction in which the game goes.”
HSV and St. Pauli – who will keep their broad chest?
Two big-chested rivals. Two clubs that also want to make their fans proud winners of the derby. Incentive and pressure at the same time. Whoever can handle it better will win. According to Schultz, only one thing is clear before kick-off: “It’s crackling! People ask about it at the bakery and everywhere you go cross-country skiing. It will never be normal.”
A special day, a sparkling evening. For Hamburg and football.