HSV fact file
Wednesday, 11. September 2019, 18:53 Uhr
It's derby time again on Monday evening when it's the turn of our neighbours from across the city to leave their calling card at the Millerntor. As usual, we've taken a closer look at our next opponents.
HSV makeover
Quite a lot has happened at HSV compared with last season. Not only do the Red Shorts have a new coaching team led by Dieter Hecking, they have also brought in 12 new players, culminating in Martin Harnik on the final day of the transfer period. Hecking fielded six new recruits against Darmstadt on the opening day and his team has featured at least seven in every game since, as in the 3-0 defeat of relegated Hannover 96 last time out.
Midfield goal threat
HSV are the best attacking team this season with 13 goals so far, including one own goal and five from strikers. The midfield department has been very prolific, however, especially former Ingolstadt man Sonny Kittel, who already has four goals to his name. Three more midfielders have got their names on the scoresheet: old boy Jeremy Dudziak, David Kinsombi and Aaron Hunt.
Efficient finishers
No team has registered more attempts on goal this term than Monday night's visitors (90 in total). Thirteen of those efforts found the net, an impressive return albeit not the best. That honour belongs to Jahn Regensburg, whose 56 attempts have produced 10 goals, with the Boys in Brown not far behind on eight goals from 53 attempts.
Doing the miles
HSV come to the Millerntor on Monday having done a lot of running so far this season. A total distance covered of 591.09 kilometres puts them fourth in this category, behind frontrunners VfL Bochum (600.20 km), Holstein Kiel (600.12 km) and VfB Stuttgart (592.79 km). The Boys in Brown are eighth in this ranking on 578.05 km.
Long layoff
We are no strangers to knee injuries, of course, with both Henk Veerman and Philipp Ziereis working their way back to full fitness following lengthy layoffs. Across the city the same fate befell Jairo Samperio at the beginning of last season. The striker tore the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments as well as the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and didn't play again last term. Samperio got his first full 90 minutes in the 1-1 friendly draw against VfL Wolfsburg last week, having bagged his first competitive goal for the club in the 4-2 win at Karlsruhe in late August.
Quickest new boy
One of the aforementioned new recruits is Jan Gyamerah, who was also the quickest signing, having put pen to paper back in February. Pace is very much a strength of the former Bochum stalwart. Gyamerah was clocked at 34.92 km/h in the 4-2 win at Karlsruhe, making him the fastest player in the league this season. The right-back won't be able to demonstrate his lightning turn of pace at the Millerntor on Monday, however, after injuring his left leg so badly in training on Wednesday that he had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance. A subsequent examination revealed a broken fibula. May we take this opportunity to wish him a speedy recovery!
Photo: Witters
