HSV – Fortuna Dusseldorf
2. Bundesliga, Round 8
Hamburg, September 29, 18:30 CET
Two away defeats in a row dropped HSV, the former champions of the continent, to 3rd place in the 2. Bundesliga. The derby against first-placed Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday is a great opportunity for the Hamburg club. It's about a team, that provides significantly better games on their own field.
As hosts, HSV have won seven of their last nine matches against this opponent – with two draws. Last season in Hamburg, HSV achieved a relatively routine victory 2:0, in a match played in the middle of September last year.
So far, in the new season of the 2. Bundesliga, HSV has played three matches in Hamburg - and won each of those games, with a total goal difference of 10:3. Moreover, it was about duels with opponents of excellent quality, former elite Bundesliga clubs (the famous German club Schalke was defeated 5:3, and then the biggest Berlin club Hertha 3:0). In the last match played at home, HSV had as many as 11 shots on target in the victory over Hansa Rostock, at the beginning of September.
It is clear that this team plays with a lot of self-confidence and with the goal of constantly attacking the opponent, when they play at their "Volkspark" stadium. Slovakian Benes and German Glatzel are in good form, both with five goals each in the new 2. Bundesliga season – and are expected to be extremely dangerous in the Fortuna goal.
On the other hand, the Dusseldorf club is in a series of five matches without defeat - and last weekend Fortuna was a little disappointing, with a 1:1 draw at home against Hannover. It can be said that the Fortuna team has had an extremely favorable schedule so far in the 2. Bundesliga, and that the matches in which they did not win (a home defeat against Paderborn 2:1 and a draw away to St. Pauli 0:0), there were setbacks.
In reality, only the match with HSV is first test of real quality for Fortuna Dusseldorf. However, according to the quality of the individuals, the Hamburg team is a clear favorite on their home field and has a great opportunity to perhaps take over the top of the table again with a win. First place is certainly the ambition for the club this season.
In matches away from home, Fortuna has scored as many as 11 goals in the 2. Bundesliga and the German Cup this season and conceded only two goals, in a total of four games. Again, a large number of goals are expected in the match in Hamburg, at least three in this derby - which unfortunately is not a good enough odd at the bookmakers this Friday...
However, it is equally likely that the host will get a victory on Friday, which would be extremely important for them, while Fortuna is not burdened by the pressure of expectations and can afford this defeat at an early stage of the season. Counting on the team's quality and experience, the home team has a big advantage in this fight.