Random Match of the Week, Preview Hamburger SV - VfL Wolfsburg [22 October 2011]

Heiko Westermann - Hamburgs captain

Today I'm going to see a match from the Bundesliga between Hamburger SV and Wolfsburg.

Hamburg is the only team that always played in the Bundesliga from its foundation in 1963, thus earning the nickname "The Dinosaurs". Unfortunately for them, they currently are in the last place. A team that is usually in the first half of the league, now, after 9 fixtures Hamburg managed to bring home only 7 points, but they seem to have gained some momentum with 2 wins in the last 3 matches and I'm sure they will try to continue this good run.

The wolves on the other hand, stand a little better in the league in 12th place, but they still have to win points if they want to be at a comfortable distance from the following pack, and what better chance to do that than to beat the team in last place.

Photo from soccer.ru

Time for big changes in top football?

I know we are still in the first part of the football season but it seems to me that some changes might occur at the top of the football chain. Some teams that always have made a good impression are getting worse.

Some examples are Bayern Munchen and AC Milan. Both teams played in the UEFA Cup in recent years and this year they are having weak runs in the domestic leagues with Bayern in 6th position and Milan in 8th. The Germans are also having trouble in the Champions League with 3 points in 3 matches, a competition where Milan shoved they are still breathing after beating the high investors from Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu.

Another team that has problems and all the football blogs around the world are talking about is FC Liverpool. Rafa Benitez is a great manager, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2005 and reaching the final again in 2007, but now everyone is talking about him being sacked. I would not do it, maybe because I'm a fan of continuity. I know he bought most of the players the club has and who else could then know them better and get them out of the mess sooner than him?

Valencia, another team that always was between the big shoot is nowhere in sight now, and the money problems they have are still hurting them.

I guess the teams that will replace them are the ones bought by big investors like Manchester City, Chealsea and teams from the Eastern block like Shaktar and Dynamo Kiev from Ukraine and the Russian teams, who make transfer that could be envied by anyone.

Bayern München humiliated by Werder Bremen

I bet this guy isn't sleeping to good tonight. What was he thinking before the game? They won in the Champions League in the first game, in an away match, they won the last 2 games in the league at 3 goals difference and now Werder Bremen is coming in town, I'm sure he did not predict this:

30′ [0 - 1] M. Rosenberg
45′ [0 - 2] Naldo
54′ [0 - 3] M. Ozil
59′ [0 - 4] C. Pizarro
67′ [0 - 5] M. Rosenberg
71′ [1 - 5] T. Borowski
85′ [2 - 5] T. Borowski

I guess the football wasn't as bad as the score shows, having more shots on target then Werder, but still, being 5 behind on home ground, we will have to check and see if that ever happened before to Bayern before! The problem here is communication with your players. If your defenders are so lost on the field then I'm sure Klinsmann should really do more talking before the game with them.

Oh well, I guess the lucky bastards just went to the Oktoberfest after the game to cheer themselves up.

Cheers!