Clash Of The North Titans

First Team
Saturday, 01.12.2007 / 08:38

Basically, Werder Bremen general manager Klaus Allofs could have answered all questions on the subject of the up-coming north German derby by simply grabbing hold of a remote control and flick on the teletext to show the current Bundesliga table.

Basically, Werder Bremen general manager Klaus Allofs could have answered all questions on the subject of the up-coming north German derby by simply grabbing hold of a remote control and flick on the teletext to show the current Bundesliga table. Basically, alone that would be enough to raise the tension ahead of Saturday, 01.12.2007’s clash between the third and fourth placed sides in the league at the Weser Stadium. Basically, the names of the two arch rivals alone should be enough. Basically!!! But Klaus Allofs couldn’t help but comment on just what this match means: “For all the understanding between the two clubs, we are serious, sporting rivals. There are good wins and great wins, a win against HSV is always one of the latter.”

 

Whether or not the 87th derby between the two develops into one of those memorable games could well rest on two particular individuals. On the pitch, Raphael van der Vaart pulls the strings whilst Huub Stevens looks after things from the sideline. Since the Dutch coach took over the reins at the Hamburg club, he has guided them from the drop zone to a Champions League spot. HSV are level on points with Werder, just one point adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich. With Stevens at the helm they have not lost in 13 competitive games – winning eleven, and drawing against FC Schalke and VfL Wolfsburg, just like Werder. “That’s quite a run”, admitted teh Green-Whites coach Thomas Schaaf ahead of what is sure to be the most interesting tie of the weekend.

 

Building from the back

 

Schaaf is convinced he knows exactly what means were used to guide a tattered HSV back on the road to success: “My colleague in Hamburg is known for building on a strong defence to stabilise in his teams”. So far this season, Steven’s men have conceded just ten goals this season, the second best defence in the league. Thomas Schaaf went on to say: “It will be difficult for us to find holes in their compact back row and make an impression upon them.”

 

If the defensive solidity is the calling card left by one Dutch specialist, up front it’s another Dutch specialist who sets the pace. With eight goals to his credit, Raphael van der Vaart has scored more than a third of all of HSV’s goals this season in the Bundesliga and has been just as successful in other competitions. Additionally, the Hamburg playmaker has provided telling passes for four further goals: “Hamburg are surely delighted to have a player with the quality of van der Vaart within their ranks”, acknowledged Schaaf honestly. The Werder coach will have all too vivd memories of just how dangerous the Dutch midfielder can be after his brace decided the last tie between the two clubs in HSV’s favour.

 

A mixture of respect and self-confidence

 

All though it may appear differently, the Hamburg club are not exclusively reliant on van der Vaart when it comes to scoring goals. Against VfB Stuttgart, the Dutchman was forced to pause and Croatian international Ivica Olic stepped up to bury the German champions almost completely on his own. The striker was on target three times in the first half, scoring half of his goals for the season so far in 45 minutes. It’s not only that which inspires Thomas Schaaf’s respect for the club: “HSV have proven that they deserve to be up where they are and have gained in self-confidence through their performances.”

 

Schaaf’s men will have no need to bury their heads in the sand though. Werder proved their quality again on Wednesday with a brilliant 3:2 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League. And that without the assistance of Diego, Torsten Frings or Hugo Almeida. The win was made yet more impressive by the fact that Tim Borowski and Tim Wiese were both forced out of the tie at relatively short notice and Clemens Fritz who had to be substituted early on: “The game against Real was a great confidence booster. We will call up all of our ability and see if things work out against HSV as they did against Madrid”, said Schaaf, who believes in his squad.

 

With Diego, Ivan Klasnic and John Jairo Mosquera, the trainer will have three further players available to him for the derby clash and there is also still hope for Leon Andreasen who returned to training on Thursday. The trainer himself had forgotten the Danish international and had to admit “Things have been a little chaotic here recently.”

 

John Muldoon

 

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