With Bundesliga on the line, Hamburg appeal for fans boost
European champions Hamburg SV have invited fans to attend what could be their last Bundesliga training sessions for at least a year as they prepare to host Borussia Moenchengladbach in a game that may see them relegated from the German top flight for the first time. Hamburg are the only team to have played every season in the Bundesliga since the league’s creation in 1963, a record not even champions Bayern Munich are able to claim as they were only promoted in 1965.
Even a victory on Saturday might not be enough to earn Hamburg a shot at keeping their Bundesliga place via a relegation playoff, with that spot currently occupied by VfL Wolfsburg.
The stadium clock, which
MUNICH:Former
has been ticking for more than 54 years to mark their Bundesliga record, will need to be reset if they fail to win on Saturday.
“Normally you are already gone at this stage. But we still have one more chance to reach the relegation playoff,” said coach Christian Titz.
“We are two points behind. But incredible things have happened in football. We still have real chances to win the home game in our own stadium and with the strength of our fans.”
Hamburg, in 17th place on 28 points, two behind Wolfsburg, need a win and for Wolfsburg to lose to alreadyrelegated Cologne to jump into 16th place and secure a relegation/promotion playoff against the third team in the second division.