One of the critical fixtures remaining in the 2. Bundesliga, as we hit the final matchday, as Hamburger SV hosted Sandhausen. Hamburg have played in several vital ties in recent history, but with the opportunity of a playoff birth this makes this fixture one of the biggest. The hosts are coming off the back of a last-minute defeat to direct rivals Heidenheim. Hamburg must win to keep the possibility of a Nordderby relegation playoff battle with Werder Bremen awaiting the third-placed side. Sandhausen had very little to play for, yet they could be the ultimate villain to most of Hamburg.
This tactical analysis dives into tactics from an extremely tense battle, one which saw Hamburg live up to its recent reputation and bottle its slim promotion chances.
Lineups
Dieter Hecking made several changes to the side which fell in Heidenheim last Sunday. Ewerton, who has only played 150 minutes this season was picked in the starting lineup with Hamburg playing a back three. Gideon Jung also drops into the back three with Jordan Beyer making way. Adrian Feins last game in Hamburg colours before returning to Bayern Munich results in a start as Timo Letschert is left out. Ex Borussia Dortmund junior Jeremy Dudziak once again features as a number ten.
Uwe Koschinat opted for three changes to the team that lost to Dynamo Dresden on matchday 33. Gerrit Nauber was out through injury with Aleksandr Zhirov making his return. Marlon Frey and Aziz Bouhaddouz were dropped to the bench in favour of Emmanuel Taffertshofer and Sandhausens top scorer Kevin Behrens.
