#TSGHSV preview: "There’s no holding back"

TSG are looking to pick up points for the seventh game in a row, Hamburg however come into the game with the wind beneath their sails having beaten second-in-the-table Schalke last weekend, giving their survival hopes a much needed boost. Julian Nagelsmann knows he cannot underestimate HSV in the lead-up to this game. Hoffenheim’s head coach spoke to achtzehn99.de to give us his thoughts on the game that takes place this Saturday at 15:30 CEST in the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar Arena.

Julian Nagelsmann on…

...the opponent:

“The game on Saturday will be very similar to the game against Köln. Like when we played Köln, Hamburg come here on the back of a win the weekend before and will be full of confidence. They put up a really good performance against Schalke. Since Christian Titz took over all of the performances, maybe with the exception of their game against Hertha, have been solid. Their game has changed; they now play with more of the ball, defend more aggressively once they lose it and have five attacking players, who like to gamble and then have six who keep them protected at the back. Like when we were battling it out at the bottom, HSV need to win. They’ve got their backs against the wall and have to play with no holds barred but we will be up to the challenge. I expect it to be an interesting game, whether we will get the same result as we did against Köln is yet to be seen but we will give it our all.”

...the squad:

"Mark Uth won’t be available after he picked up his fifth yellow card. Apart from him, everyone is available – including Kevin Vogt, who had to miss the game against Frankfurt because of stomach problems. Kerem Demribay is back fit for the starting XI. With Dennis Geiger, it will still be a couple of weeks before he is back in team training. He might still make an appearance this season but we don’t want to be taking too many risks at this stage.”

...the team’s current position:

“We’re having the third best season in the team’s history. We’re six games unbeaten. We’re still within striking distance of the team ahead of us, so it’s hardly a bad situation. Will we qualify for the Europa League? We’ll certainly try our best and even try to do better, not in terms of performances but in terms of results.

Previous encounters between the sides

There has been a certain parity between these two sides of late. In the 19 encounters between the two sides in the Bundesliga era, TSG have won seven, HSV eight and four have been drawn. In the nine games that Hoffenheim have played at home, they have won five. TSG can only boast more home wins against Hannover (six) than against Hamburg. The game in the first half of this season however is best left to one side, as HSV walked away 3-0 victors.

The opponent’s form

HSV’s win over Schalke last weekend has meant that the light at the end of the tunnel just got that bit brighter. Titz and his XI won the game 3-2 and with it their first in thirteen matchdays. It was an important three points that gets them ever closer to Mainz in the playoff place; the gap however remains at five points between the side in 16th and 17th.

What to look out for

Should Serge Gnabry and Andrej Kramaric continue their good form in place of the suspended Mark Uth, TSG will have every chance of picking up their next three points at home. HSV scored more than once for the first time against Schalke since the winter break, which is only their eighth goal in the entire second half of the season. In comparison Serge Gnagry has scored six and set up six in the same time frame.