Hamburger SV are a club that are traditionally seen as one of the biggest in the German game. In fact, Hamburg are the only club to have played in the German top level league continuously.
However, in recent years HSV have fallen on hard times. The team have spent the last few seasons flirting with relegation. This season their very creditable record could be ended.
HSV are currently 17th in the Bundesliga table and three points away from safety. On Friday night Hamburg welcomes out-of-sorts Bayer Leverkusen to the Volksparkstadion hoping to pick up three precious points.
The home side do not head into this game in great spirits, as they have suffered back-to-back Bundesliga defeats since the return from the winter break. One positive for HSV is their home form. At the Volksparkstadion, they are now unbeaten in three games in the Bundesliga, winning their last two matches.
However, despite those two home wins HSV have recorded just three wins in the German top-flight this season, which on paper is relegation form.
Bayer Leverkusen are not exactly in sparkling form themselves, as they are currently in ninth place in the Bundesliga table after an inconsistent campaign. Last time out Bayer suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Monchengladbach.
Away from home, the visitors have been poor in the Bundesliga, winning just two of their last eight games on their travels in the German top-flight. Bayer’s recent away games have been high-scoring with over 2.5 goals scored in eight of their last ten league games.
Bayer will be confident of recording a win in this clash, as they are unbeaten in four meetings with HSV, winning three times in the process. Forebet predicts that Bayer will record a relatively comfortable victory in this clash and leave HSV marooned in the relegation zone.