In the world of the 2. Bundesliga, the match between Elversberg and Hamburg has always been a significant one. Coach Baumgart has nothing but praise for this special opponent. The clash between the small-town club SV Elversberg and the former European Cup winner Hamburger SV represents the biggest possible contrast between two opponents in the 2nd tier of German football. For HSV, games against the team from the 13,000 inhabitants town in Saarland have always carried great sporting importance.
Last season’s 1-2 loss to Elversberg triggered a downturn for HSV and ultimately led to the end of Tim Walter’s tenure as head coach. In the return leg in Hamburg (1-0), his successor Steffen Baumgart sat on the HSV bench for the first time in February. Looking back on that day, Baumgart expressed, „There was a lot of excitement for me that day. It was the first time I got to walk into that stadium as the boss, which had always been a dream of mine.“
Since then, Baumgart has seen a „continuous development at HSV despite ups and downs.“ Before the upcoming match in Elversberg (Saturday, 1:00 pm/Sky), the promotion favorite finds themselves in the top three spots for the first time this season. Baumgart remarked, „At the moment, the boys are doing a very good job. The results are also there. Now, you have to keep it up.“
The 52-year-old coach only has high praise for Elversberg. He commended them for their journey from competing for the top spots in the Regionalliga to marching straight into the second division with impressive football. Baumgart stated, „Elversberg is a club on the rise. They have collected seven points from their last three games, just like us. They are one of the fittest teams. They create many goal-scoring opportunities and have one of the best defenses. This simply shows that they are a very good second division team.“ He added, „I watched them against Ulm, where they lost. And I saw them a week later in Berlin, where they won 4-1 against Hertha at the Olympic Stadium. I believe that is the true face they have.“
Baumgart’s admiration for Elversberg’s performance and potential sets the stage for an exciting and competitive match between the two contrasting teams. As they prepare to face off once again, both sides will be looking to secure a victory and continue their respective journeys in the 2. Bundesliga. The clash between Elversberg and Hamburg promises to be a thrilling encounter filled with passion, determination, and the pursuit of success in the world of German football.