HSV is challenged after the hefty derby defeat

Just over a week ago, the Hamburg player set many exclamation points in the second division and apparently led the table confidently. But after a draw in the home game against Kaiserslautern and especially after the clear derby defeat on Friday evening against FC St. Pauli at the Millerntor, the question marks suddenly appear again: Is this just a dip in the course of the season or is there another major problem on the horizon?

After the 108th Hamburg city derby, which he messed up, HSV coach Tim Walter said goodbye to his colleague Timo Schultz with the words: "We'll see each other again in the second leg." It sounded almost defiant and yet makes it clear how much the 0: 3 of his Hamburger SV at FC St. Pauli around Schultz gnawed at him and his players. Walter would like to avoid another derby at the Millerntor neighbors by promoting himself from the 2nd Bundesliga.

For the fourth time in a row, the big HSV lost the guest game with the underdog from the Kiez - repetition undesirable. "It's no fun to lose here," said HSV player Jonas Meffert, annoyed.

Hamburger SV was unbeaten in six games in the 2nd Bundesliga and went on the shortest business trip of the season as the league leader. The team had managed eight wins abroad across the seasons and set a league record. But all the good numbers were gone after a memorable evening with the highest derby defeat since the 1:4 on February 14, 1960 in the Oberliga Nord.

Everyone agreed that the justified red card for HSV captain Sebastian Schonlau (28th) after an emergency brake against St. Pauli striker Etienne Amenyido was the key moment of the game. "The decisive scene was of course the red card," said Walter. Schultz agreed: "I think that Schonlau's dismissal had a big impact on the game."

Despite being outnumbered, Walter didn't see his team giving up. Even with ten men, she had the game "actually under control". “We have more control and more possession. We tried to play our game, that's what we stand for," he said. But this time there was no success.

What must be more worrying for him: Even before the dismissal, HSV had struggled against FC St. Pauli. Schultz had trained his formation from a three-man to a five-man defense within a few days ("The guys did a really good job of that today."). The guests found it difficult to cope with it, they didn't like the early start.

Is this just a glitch or the possible beginning of a minor crisis? As in the 1-1 draw against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the Millerntor lacked the playful ease and dominance with which HSV otherwise crushes their opponents. “We know what we have achieved this season. We know what kind of quality we have and we don't let that get us down. We'll do our thing," said goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes combatively.

FC St. Pauli showed what a victory in a derby can do: was there a crisis? Were there seven games without a win? Was there the danger of falling into the danger zones? Eric Smith (61st), Marcel Hartel (74th) and David Otto (89th) shot their fans into a long-missed emotional high in front of the 29,205 spectators in the sold-out Millerntor Stadium.

"We hope that this win in the derby will give us a boost for the rest of the season. If we show what we can do, I think we'll be one of the top teams in the league," said captain Jackson Irvine. "The win gives us self-confidence," Schultz was convinced. "Now it's going on for us in quick succession."

That applies to both teams: in the second round of the DFB Cup, both travel to top-class opponents. HSV has to go to defending champion RB Leipzig on Tuesday. A day later, FC St. Pauli is a guest at the Bundesliga surprise team SC Freiburg. "We have plans again for Tuesday," announced Heuer Fernandes for HSV. For St. Pauli's co-captain Leart Paqarada it's clear: "We're going to Breisgau with confidence." In the league, HSV will then welcome newly promoted Magdeburg on Sunday, while the Paulinans are expected to play the evening game at the Bielefelder Alm on Saturday.

He and his teammates can enjoy the feeling of being city champions for another six months. The rivals will meet again in the Volksparkstadion on the 29th matchday next April. Not only Walter hopes on the HSV side that it may be the last one for the time being.