Old friends reunited

There is no lack of incentive for Hoffenheim coming into this game. Victory will take even further from the perils of the relegation battle, as well as leave them firmly in the safe surroundings of mid-table. And for HSV three points would be equally welcome, if not more so. The Bundesliga ‘dinosaurs' moved to 14th place in the division after their 1-1 draw with Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Sunday, but remain just two points above the relegation play-off place.

Babbel was nostalgic when asked about his time at Bayern Munich, when he and Fink enjoyed such success. “We achieved a lot at Bayern together. We still know each other well and we speak very often. That won't be the case in the run-up to this game though”, admitted Hoffenheim's coach. Hamburg have been in the throes of relegation for much of the campaign, but Babbel does not believe they will be playing in the 2. Bundesliga next year. “It's inconceivable that they will go down. If all goes well, they'll win every game until the end of the season, except against us, of course”, he said with a smile.

Williams: “It would have been great if he could play”

1899's USA international midfielder Daniel Williams would normally be looking forward to a reunion of his own, but circumstances have put paid to the possibility of lining up against his childhood friend Dennis Aogo. The two of them grew up together in Karlsruhe and joined the Karlsruhe SC youth team at the same time. Aogo later made the switch to SC Freiburg, where Williams followed two years later. In 2008 their paths separated, as Aogo moved north to join Hamburg, while Williams joined TSG last summer. Unfortunately for the two of them, Aogo received a fifth yellow card against Leverkusen and must sit the coming clash at the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena out through suspension.

“I sent him a text yesterday asking if he got the booking on purpose”, laughed Williams. “It's a shame because I would like to have seen him again and played against him.” The earliest the two players can now meet is next season. That depends on whether or not Hamburg survive relegation, but Williams for one is sure that his friend's team will manage that feat. “Of course they'll stay in the league, even if we end up winning on Wednesday,” believes the 23-year-old.

Match facts and statistics »