swabianfox
Rare Continental Breed
Those of you who follow German football a bit shall be reminded that tonight there is the second leg of a play-off between those two teams for the last Bundesliga slot in the coming season.
As a reminder, each year the team who comes 16th in the Bundesliga has to enter a two-legged play-off against whoever comes third in the 2. Bundesliga for the final Bundesliga slot.
This year, Hertha BSC came 16th in the Bundesliga, and Hamburger SV came third in the 2. Bundesliga. Both are old and traditional clubs with a big following and a long history.
Hamburg (6x German champions) was for quite some the only founding member of the Bundesliga that never got relegated (affectionately called 'Dino') but, due to poor management and a steady decline on the pitch, they finally dropped to 2. Bundesliga in 2018. They have since failed to get promoted again (they came 4th three seasons in a row!!), and this might be their chance tonight since they won the first leg in Berlin 1-0!!
Hertha BSC, on the other hand, are also a very big club with a big following who play in the Olympiastadion in Berlin but, despite their size and the size of the city they have largely been perennial underachievers, often fluctuating between the first and second tier. They don't have many titles to their name, at least not recently (two German championships in 1930 and 31), and I only vaguely remember a couple of German Cup finals in the 70s and a single CL appearance maybe 15 years ago. Relegation, nonetheless, would be a catastrophy, not only financially but also due to the fact this would also confirm their drop to no. 2 in Berlin behind Union Berlin from Köpenick who have now firmly established themselves in the top tier, have a legendary and extremely loyal fanbase and are managed very well!!
There is additional spice in the tie since the current Hertha BSC manager, Felix Magath, is a Hamburg legend and former long-term midfield general, scoring also the only goal in their 1-0 and only European Cup victory against Juventus Turin in 1983.
As I said, Hamburg won the first leg in Berlin 1-0. It's theirs to lose now but a lot is at stake tonight!!
As a reminder, each year the team who comes 16th in the Bundesliga has to enter a two-legged play-off against whoever comes third in the 2. Bundesliga for the final Bundesliga slot.
This year, Hertha BSC came 16th in the Bundesliga, and Hamburger SV came third in the 2. Bundesliga. Both are old and traditional clubs with a big following and a long history.
Hamburg (6x German champions) was for quite some the only founding member of the Bundesliga that never got relegated (affectionately called 'Dino') but, due to poor management and a steady decline on the pitch, they finally dropped to 2. Bundesliga in 2018. They have since failed to get promoted again (they came 4th three seasons in a row!!), and this might be their chance tonight since they won the first leg in Berlin 1-0!!
Hertha BSC, on the other hand, are also a very big club with a big following who play in the Olympiastadion in Berlin but, despite their size and the size of the city they have largely been perennial underachievers, often fluctuating between the first and second tier. They don't have many titles to their name, at least not recently (two German championships in 1930 and 31), and I only vaguely remember a couple of German Cup finals in the 70s and a single CL appearance maybe 15 years ago. Relegation, nonetheless, would be a catastrophy, not only financially but also due to the fact this would also confirm their drop to no. 2 in Berlin behind Union Berlin from Köpenick who have now firmly established themselves in the top tier, have a legendary and extremely loyal fanbase and are managed very well!!
There is additional spice in the tie since the current Hertha BSC manager, Felix Magath, is a Hamburg legend and former long-term midfield general, scoring also the only goal in their 1-0 and only European Cup victory against Juventus Turin in 1983.
As I said, Hamburg won the first leg in Berlin 1-0. It's theirs to lose now but a lot is at stake tonight!!