Hamburg SV

[Oliver_Kahn]

VS

MD 24: FC Schalke 04 - Hamburger SV
Stadium: VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Date: Friday, 2nd Mar, 20:30 C.E.T. (GMT +1)

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Current League Form: WWWDL

This game should be a great match to watch.

I fancy HSV to make Schalke drop some points.

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Oh man.. Couldn't have imagined such a great opponent for Schalke.. Schalke will definately drop points in this one.. I just don't know if they'll drop all 3 pts or 2 pts.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Table-toppers FC Schalke 04 host Hamburger SV in Friday's Bundesliga match. bundesliga.de recalls unforgotten moments.


Both teams have already met 77 times in Bundesliga history, with 30 victories for each side and 17 draws.

Both Schalke and HSV were founding members of the Bundesliga. Schalke won the first clash on matchday 5 1-0 thanks to Günther Herrmann's goal.

Five-goal thriller in 1968

November 9th 1968 saw a thrilling match. Uwe Seeler and Jürgen Kurbjuhn put HSV two up, but Hans-Jürgen Wittkamp and Klaus Senger brought S04 level again, only for Klaus Fock to win it for Hamburg eight minutes from time.

A few HSV fans may still remember Klaus Scheer. The Schalke player scored four goals in three matches against Hamburg when Schalke won three in a row (3-1, 1-0, 3-1) in the 70-71 and 71-72 seasons.

Fischer's goals a bad omen

Schalke goal-getter Klaus Fischer also made his mark against HSV, but his goals were never a good omen for the "Royal Blues".

On the opening day of the 1975-76 season Fischer fired Schalke to a 1-0 away lead - only for HSV to win the match 4-1.

Even a brace not enough

Two seasons later Fischer was at the double for the "Royal Blues", but Ferdinand Keller (76) and skipper Peter Nogly two minutes from time secured a point for HSV.

Fischer tried his luck again with an opener in the first leg of the 1978-79 season. Kevin Keegan equalised for HSV. Thomas Lander restored Schalke's lead, but Keegan, Horst Hrubesch and Horst Bertl fired the Hanseatics to a 4-2 win.

Schalke hammered in the 80's

HSV continued to have the upper hand in the early eighties.

A 4-0 win in May 1980, a 7-1 thrashing five months later and a 6-2 in December 1982 clearly demonstrate Hamburg's superiority during that peroid.

Card games

In recent times matches between both teams have a reputation for producing many cards.

In the last ten years seven red cards and 94 bookings were issued.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Mario Fillinger has undergone a meniscus operation on Monday, February 26th.


"The operation was successful", HSV club doctor Dr. Oliver Dierk said.

Fillinger had suffered the injury at the weekend while warming up for HSV reserves' match at VfB Lübeck.

Out for six weeks

"That's a blow, of course, but I'll try to get fit as soon as possible", Fillinger said.

Head coach Huub Stevens will have to make do without Fillinger for an estimated six weeks.

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Never seen him play for HSV..

[Oliver_Kahn]

He has 9 Bundesliga games.
Mario Fillinger - Transfermarkt.de

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Hamburg beat Bremen (in their home).
Hamburg to beat Schalke (in their home).

C'mon Hamburg, do it!

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Bundesliga outfit Hamburger SV and Piotr Trochowski have extended the contract binding the talented midfielder to the club.

The midfielder, whose contract would have expired in 2009, extended his contract with the "Red Shorts" until June 30th 2011.

"We are delighted that Piotr has committed his future to the club. He has the potential to become a real key player for us", HSV CEO Bernd Hoffmann said.

"I'm a Hamburg boy"

The German international is delighted, too. "I'm a Hamburg boy and I had a nice time with HSV during the last two years. I'm looking forward to a successful future."

According to head coach Huub Stevens, Trochowski is already a key player for HSV. "Piotr's potential is unbelievable. He's comfortable in Hamburg and I'm delighted that he remains with the club."

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The Royal Blues have their next opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points this Friday. To do so they will need to beat SV Hamburg in front of another sell-out VELTINS Arena crowd. And this is exactly what Mirko Slomka's men intend to do.

"We aim to win and thus put our rivals, who do not play until Saturday, under pressure", explained the Schalke boss. Today there was good news for him on the injury front. Soren Larsen has recovered from a muscle tear and will be in the squad to face Hamburg. Levan Kobiashvili is also back from suspension, though it remains to be seen whether Mladen Krstajic will be able to play wearing "armour-plating" to protect his broken rib.

The Royal Blues will have to do without their suspended playmaker Lincoln for the first time since the mid-season break. "Our game plan will change, but there are always tactical alternatives", said Slomka. "And in Fabian Ernst, Levan Kobiashvili, Zlatan Bajramovic and Hamit Altintop we still have a quality midfield", he added, confident he will be able to compensate for the loss of the Brazilian.

Everyone in the Schalke camp is aware that Hamburg represent another tough challenge. After three wins in a row under new coach Huub Stevens they have climbed out of the relegation zone at long last. According to Slomka this can be attributed to the modifications Stevens has made: "They are playing very disciplined football and are much more defensive and dangerous on the break than in the first half of the season. So it's going to be difficult to create chances."

"Our task will be to force them into early mistakes that we can exploit to score what might be the all-important goal. I'm confident we can breach their bulwark, but we can't afford to get caught on the break", said Slomka.

Schalke's recent home record against Hamburg is a curious one. The Royal Blues comfortably won the first three matches at the VELTINS Arena (2-0, 3-0 and 4-1), but then went on to lose the next two 2-1 and 2-0. But this doesn't worry Slomka. "The situation now is completely different. We're top of the table and they're fighting against relegation. And earlier in the season we won 2-1 in Hamburg. If you look at it like that Hamburg ought to be worried about us."

[Oliver_Kahn]

I think HSV will make Schalke drop some pts.

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Hamburger SV's Huub Stevens and Frank Rost return to their former club FC Schalke 04 in Friday night's Bundesliga clash.

Huub Stevens and Frank Rost agree: their former club FC Schalke 04 will win the Bundesliga this season. Despite that, both are not in the mood for presents on their return with Hamburger SV.

"I'm sure that the Blue-Whites will win the title, even without a win against us", goalkeeper Rost said ahead of the match on Friday (20:30 CET).

"Schalke will be champions"

HSV head coach Stevens, who led the "Royal Blues" to the biggest success in their history by winning the UEFA Cup ten years ago, has no doubt whatsoever.

"Schalke will be champions, no matter how the match ends. I'm a hundred percent certain", the Dutchman said. Stevens was very close to leading Schalke to their first title since 1958 six years ago, when Schalke became the "People's Champions".

Stevens: "I'm looking forward"

He still holds his time with Schalke "close to his heart", and he is expected to get a heart-felt welcome - just like in 2002, when he returned with Hertha BSC.

"I'm looking forward to meeting old friends again", said Stevens, who coached Schalke in 195 Bundesliga matches between 1996 and 2002, guiding them to the UEFA Cup triumph and two DFB Cup titles.

Rost sees eleven cup finals

Frank Rost returns to Gelsenkirchen for the first time. The goalkeeper moved on in the winter break, after he lost his place in goal to 20 year old Manuel Neuer.

"I've put Schalke behind me", said Rost, who played 130 Bundesliga matches in four and a half years for Schalke. "We have eleven cup finals left this season, and this is one of them."

Schalke want to keep their cool

For leaders Schalke it's eleven cup finals, too. After their unbeaten run (13 matches) came to an end against Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday (0-1) and the five-game suspension for playmaker Lincoln, the "Royal Blues" want to avoid talk about their nerves. "We're not shaky", striker Kevin Kuranyi insisted.

Schalke are out to prove that they're not about to lose their nerves close to the title - like in 2001 and 2005, but they have to do so without important players.

Without five key players

Apart from Lincoln, who was suspended for five matches, Peter Lövenkrands, Gustavo Varela, Christian Pander and Gerald Asamoah all miss out. Additionally Mladen Krstajic is doubtful with a broken rib.

Head coach Mirko Slomka keeps his cool despite all drop-outs. "We're not afraid to lose the top position", the coach said, "we're still four points ahead."

Stevens: "Nothing to give away"

For HSV, who have a third former Schalke player in their squad in Mathias Abel, the situation is less comfortable - despite three wins in a row. The Bundesliga founding members are just one point ahead of the relegation zone.

"That's why we have nothing to give away in Schalke", Stevens stressed. "Absolutely nothing."

Line-ups as expected:

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic (Hoogland), Rodriguez - Ernst, Bajramovic, Kobiaschwili - Hamit Altintop, Kuranyi, Halil Altintop.

Hamburg: Rost - Demel, Reinhardt, Mathijsen, Atouba - Mahdavikia, Jarolim, Laas, Trochowski - van der Vaart, Olic.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark

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Nigel de Jong and Collin Benjamin were able to do some light work with the ball yesterday, as they try to recover from their torn hamstring injuries. They were lucky compared to Juan Pablo Sorin, who is struggling with a hardened thigh muscle. It is looking increasingly likely that head coach Huub Stevens will have to plan without the Argentinian World Cup captain for HSV's crucial round 24 Bundesliga trip to high-flying Schalke on Friday night.

Sorin struggling

Sorin's injury is proving troublesome: "It will be a close run thing for Friday", confirmed co-trainer Markus Schupp. HSV will not risk further injury to the 30 year old veteran, who was sidelined for weeks at the start of the season with a calf problem. In November Sorin tore a thigh muscle, and only a month later was out again with a further calf injury. He was forced off after 54 minutes during HSV's 3-1 home win over Frankfurt last weekend. Trochowski replaced him and scored a dream goal.

Troche to start in Schalke?

It is possible that the young Germany midfielder could start Fridays game in Gelsenkirchen. Should that be the case, it will be his first start since the winter break. He showed some good form against Frankfurt and could be in with a shout. In the near future, Troche plans to hold talks with the club about extending his current contract which expires in 2009. Apparently, both sides would like to extend it until 2011, and the best argument for the young midfielder are of course more dream goals.

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HSV face table-topping Schalke in round 24 of the Bundesliga on Friday night (02.03.07, kick off 8.30 pm), and for three people on the blue and white team bus, the trip to Gelsenkirchen will be a very special one. The HSV coach Huub Stevens used to coach Schalke, and keeper Frank Rost and defender Mathias Abel used to play for them. Mathias Abel and Frank kindly agreed to give hsv.de a double interview, during which they look ahead to the trip down memory lane and also tell us what the people in the Ruhr Valley are like.

hsv.de: Hello Frank and Mathias. Many thanks for taking the time to talk to hsv.de. On Friday you and HSV travel to the Veltins-Arena where you face your former club Schalke. Will it be a special occasion for you?

Mathias Abel: I played there only a few weeks ago so of course it will be special and I am looking forward to the game.

Frank Rost: I have never changed clubs during a season before. Because I was still a Schalke player only 3 months ago it will be a special occasion for me too.

hsv.de: You both know all about Schalke, so were you able to give some useful tips about them?

Rost: The odd one or two, but football has the habit of turning out differently than you initially expected it to.

Abel: Of course we talk to each other about it, but in truth most Bundesliga players know all about each other.

hsv.de: Frank, you had a special relationship with the Ruhr Valley people. What is so special about Schalke as a club and what does it mean to the people down there?

Rost: Football is religion in that area. The people maintain their traditions and it is extraordinary to witness such things.

Abel: The atmosphere is unique and the people live for Schalke and their football there.

hsv.de: Hamburg is your new home; how do you like the city and have you settled in well?

Rost: It wasn't too difficult for me because I know the Northern German mentality from my time at Werder Bremen. It is wonderful and really a global city.

Abel: I agree. Hamburg has a special flair. I am enjoying it even though I haven't been here for long.


hsv.de: Many thanks for your time and good luck in Gelsenkirchen.

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Okay guys.. I'm sorry I'm with a 5 minutes delay in this commentary/live update.

5' Schalke 0-0 Hamburg