HAMBURGER SV vs. FSV MAINZ 05 – GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
The German Bundesliga is rapidly nearing the end of another thrilling season, and the drama continues, with round 32 match-ups on offer this weekend, as Hamburger SV entertains FSV Mainz 05 at the Volksparkstadion, with kick off due to commence at (15:30 CEST/14:30 GMT). These two sides will do battle this Sunday (May 7th).
When these two struggling clubs met in the league, back in mid December, the Mainz 05 snapped up all three points on home soil, with an emphatic (3:1) victory over their league rivals. Both clubs are level on points in the German Bundesliga, and both stare down the barrel of oblivion, just four points away from automatic relegation. Each of these two sides will be scrapping for their top flight survival, which makes this encounter an intriguing prospect.
HAMBURGER SV vs FSV MAINZ 05
3-Way: 1: Hamburger SV +143; X: +260 Draw; FSV Mainz 05 +225
Spread +0.5: Hamburger SV +141 ; FSV Mainz 05 -152
Total +2.5 : Over -116; Under +110
HAMBURGER SV
The Hamburger SV has endured a tempestuous season up to now, the side has suffered with inconsistency away from home, and has struggled to find any decent form on their travels all season. On the other hand, the team’s home form is vastly superior in comparison, as the Hamburger SV has won seven of their fifteen matches played at the Volksparkstadion, and has only lost on five occasions as the hosts all season.
However, the side is experiencing a dismal run of form recently, that has seen Markus Gisdol and his club lose three consecutive matches in the German Bundeliga, the latest of which was a crushing (0:4) defeat away to FC Augsburg. This latest humiliation, is guaranteed to subdue, and dishearten this underachieving side, as they prepare for Sunday’s crucial league skirmish against FSV Mainz 05.
The Hamburger SV suffered another devastating blow, when they lost to the bottom side SV Darmstadt 98, in their most recent home affair (1:2). On a positive note, the club has won four of their last five home matches in the German Bundesliga, and did manage to carve out an impressive victory against the 3rd placed TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (2:1), back at the beginning of April. The club has only managed to keep three clean sheets at home all season, due to considerable defensive frailties, and the side has conceded 24 goals on home soil, only the bottom two sides in the league, maintain a worse record as the hosts.
The Hamburger SV has also lacked potency in the attacking third this season, due to a lack of strikers, and has had to rely on the bulk of their goals to come from the midfield.
The Austrian attacking midfielder Michael Gregoritsch is the clubs top goal scorer, as the 23 year old player has scored five times in the German Bundesliga this season. The clubs cult hero, and relegation savior, Nicolai Muller, has netted five times, the midfielders last goal came against the FC Cologne, when he scored the decisive goal, that guaranteed all three points for his side.
The clubs coach Markus Gisdol only has one absentee ahead of this weekends hotly anticipated dual, the Swedish midfielder Albin Ekdal is suffering from a Thigh injury, and is likely to remain absent for the rest of this season.
FSV MAINZ 05
FSV Mainz 05 has undergone a hellish season away from home in the German Bundesliga. The scrapping side has lost ten of their fifteen away matches, and has only claimed victory on three occasions as the visiting side, all season. The club is currently ranked 14th in the German Bundesliga, but is level on points with Sunday’s opponents the Hamburger SV, with a current total of 33 points, having played 31 matches.
The FSV Mainz desperately need three points, if the club is to avoid relegation, and their fate in the top flight could well be sealed, when the final whistle is blown, after this Sunday’s hotly anticipated contest. Away from home, the side is without a win in their last four league matches, and has lost three of their previous four encounters as the travelling side this season.
Worse still, the FSV Mainz has won only two of their last ten competitive matches in the German Bundesliga, and suffered five straight losses in a row, between mid March, and up to the middle of April.
Finding the net has been plain sailing for the FSV Mainz away from home, the club has scored over 2.5 goals in eleven of their fifteen matches as the visiting side, and has a goal tally of 41, which is the 9th best goal scoring aggregate away from home, in the German Bundesliga this season.
The German midfielder, Danny Latza is joint top of the clubs goal scorer chart, alongside fellow teammate and Turkish International Yunus Malli, both of whom has a total of five goals each domestically, this season, whilst Fellow compatriots Stefan Bell, Jhon Cordoba, Yoshinori Muto, and Levin Oztunali all have a total of five goals each.
The coach Martin Schmidt will have to find a suitable replacement, for the clubs forward Emil Berggreen, the Dutch-croatian striker is out with a Knee injury, and will not feature in Saturday’s critical showdown.
HAMBURGER SV vs. FSV MAINZ 05 MATCH PREDICTION
This tussle promises to be a blood thirsty encounter, as both sides will be fighting tooth and nail, in a bid to resist the prospect of relegation. Either side will be in significant trouble if they fail to pick up all three points, and this life-or-death aspect, will provide scintillating entertainment this Sunday, as the two sides lock horns, and stake their respective claims for top flight survival.
The two teams find themselves level on points at this critical stage in the season, and a loss for either side this Sunday, could have catastrophic repercussions for the futures of both teams, as far as the top flight is concerned.
The Hamburg SV may have the home advantage, but the club has conceded more goals than any other German Bundesliga side this season, and the Mainz 05 has an excellent goal scoring record away from home. The Hamburger SV has recently slipped into the relegation playoff position, whilst Sunday’s opponents has just equaled their club record of sixteen losses this season, a total that contributed to the side being relegated in the 2006/2007 German Bundesliga campaign.
I think the Hamburger SV will clinch this one, but it will be a cut-throat contest, with plenty of spice.. And more importantly, plenty of goals!!
MY PICK: HAMBURGER SV (+143)
TOTAL: Over 2.5 goals (-116)
