Time running short for HSV?
HSV suffered a 2-0 defeat in their final pre-season friendly against RCD Mallorca, a result that has raised concerns ahead of their return to the Bundesliga. The match, played at the Estadi de Son Moix, saw RCD Mallorca take an early lead and maintain their advantage throughout the game [1].
The performance by HSV was far from impressive, with the team largely being harmless for much of the game. HSV started sluggishly and were early behind, and despite creating a few chances in the second half, their efforts were not enough to turn the tide [2]. The coordination problems within the team were evident, as shown in Jordan Torunarigha's pass into touch and the lack of effectiveness in crucial situations [3].
The match was not a confidence booster for HSV, who have struggled in pre-season against stronger opponents. In the lead-up to the Mallorca friendly, HSV experienced mixed results, with wins against amateur clubs but losses to Copenhagen, Sturm Graz, and Olympique Lyonnais [4]. The defeat against Mallorca continues this trend, indicating lingering vulnerabilities in the squad, particularly in defense [2].
HSV's main objective for the upcoming Bundesliga season is survival and avoiding an immediate relegation back to the 2. Bundesliga. A mid-table finish would be considered a major success given their recent promotion and form [1]. However, the pre-season results, including the loss to Mallorca, suggest that HSV still have areas to improve, especially in building consistency and resilience against top-level competition [1][2].
Notable moments from the match included a red card for Jordan Torunarigha for an unnecessary hard tackle just before the end of the game, and a own goal scored by Miro Muheim in the 59th minute [5]. Despite the many new faces in the starting lineup, the team's performance was far from convincing [6].
As HSV prepare for the Bundesliga season, the focus will be on addressing these concerns and improving team cohesion. The team will be looking to skipper Sebastian Schonlau and coach Merlin Polzin to provide the leadership needed to stabilize the team and ensure a successful season [1][5].
References:
- BBC Sport
- Goal.com
- Sport Bild
- Kicker
- Sport1
- Sky Sports
Despite the setback in their final pre-season friendly against RCD Mallorca, HSV's main objective remains survival in the upcoming Bundesliga season. However, the team's sluggish performance, evident coordination problems, and vulnerabilities in defense highlighted during the match have raised concerns about their readiness for European-league level sports, such as football.
