FIRST TEAM
03/31/2011

Ibisevic's favourites travel to Sinsheim

99 Bundesliga appearances, 43 goals and Vedad Ibisevic is starting to rediscover his goalscoring instincts after adding to his goal against Borussia Dortmund, with a winner for Bosnia during the international break. Not only that, but the top encounter on Matchday 28 between 1899 Hoffenheim and Hamburger SV involves a celebration as it will be the goal-getters 100th Bundesliga appearance.

Ibisevic has always enjoyed success against HSV, especially inside the Rhein-Neckar-Arena where he scored twice in the 5-1 win last season and once in the 3-0 win the season before. However, it is his recent form that head coach Marco Pezzaiuoli is happy about: "He scored for Bosnia and against Dortmund in a short period of time. His goalscoring touch is back," stated the 42-year old. Ibisevic isn't the only one with a near flawless record against Hamburg in front of the home fans given that with two wins in two matches, 1899 are yet to drop any points at home to their northern opponents. Nevertheless, Pezzaiuoli remarked: "We've still got something to prove having lost 2-1 in the match earlier this season." Back then Pezzaiuoli was an assistant coach, just like his counterpart Michael Oenning, who took over from Armin Veh. After one game in charge, his record looks good thanks to his sides 6-2 win over 1. FC Köln, a result which banished any lingering memories of the crushing 0-6 defeat in Munich that led to Veh being released.

Pezzaiuoli expects a motivated opponent

Oenning seems to have breathed new life into his team with his ploy of using 4 very attack minded players working to a tee. "HSV played really well for having changed managers. They scored six times and thanks to their new system will be highly motivated against us", believes Pezzaiuoli with Ibisevic adding: "Hamburg will be travelling to us full of confidence."

Oenning also found words of praise for 1899. "Hoffenheim are not reaching their full potential. They've got a very good team". Not to mention a young one because in comparison to the Red Shorts the average age of Hoffenheim's starting line-up on the last Matchday was 4 years younger. Hoffenheim are building on youth, HSV are building on routine. "Hamburg are experienced and posses some high class individuals in the squad, providing you give them enough space. That's what we want to make sure we don't do, whilst remaining tight at the back," explained Pezzaiuoli. The 42-year remains optimistic though. His team have worked brilliantly in training during the week and the international representatives have all come back unscathed from the Bundesliga break.

No new concerns for Pezzaiuoli

"Our innational players such as Isaac Vorsah, Vedad Ibisevic, Gylfi Sigurdsson and David Alaba all gave good accounts of themselves with good performances for the national sides. Of course we will still have to assess how they coped with the international break before the weekend", elaborated the head coach. Matthias Jaissle is the only player unavailable to Pezzaiuoli. However, the good news is that Tobias Weis could make his return, while Chinedu Obasi and Manuel Gulde have returned to training after long-term injuries. Naturally, it is too early to expect either of them to participate and therefore both will be resigned to continue watching from the stands.

Stats and Facts

Hamburg, the only team to have never been relegated from the top flight of German football, are welcome opponents in Sinsheim. Fortuna Düsseldorf are the only other team that HSV have never been able to take points off of and they seem to struggle away from home, having only won one of their last four away fixtures. However, the one to watch is Mladen Petric who has been in sensational form in front of goal scoring 7 of HSV's last 15 goals.

 

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