Will the Werkself get revenge for their cup exit?
The women’s team at Hamburger SV remains under pressure in the Bundesliga and, with only a three-point lead over the first relegation spot, can feel the breath of their pursuers on their necks. The Werkself, meanwhile, still has one eye on third place, which would qualify them for European competition, but must first shake off their mini-slump. They have lost three of their last five league games (with two wins). If the Rhinelanders fail to secure an away win against HSV’s women’s team, the gap to third place would widen further.
The Black-and-Reds still have a score to settle with the HSV women. Back in November, the Werkself visited Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion. After a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, Bayer Leverkusen came up short in the penalty shootout. In the Bundesliga, however, the Rhinelanders have never lost to the Hamburg women in five head-to-head matches (four wins, one draw). Despite the potential dream atmosphere—up to 60,000 spectators are expected once again—the bottom line is that there is every reason to believe Coach Roberto Patzold’s squad will succeed in getting their revenge. After all, with 50 goals conceded, HSV boasts one of the most vulnerable defenses in the Women’s Bundesliga.
Another problem for the Hamburg team is the long list of absences, which, to make matters worse, also includes coach Liése Brancao, who is suspended and not allowed in the technical area. In terms of personnel, nine players are out due to injury or suspension. Among them are goal-scorer Sophie Hillebrand and defensive leader Leni Eggert. This makes it all the more likely that the visitors from the Rhineland will be able to put on a goal-scoring spectacle against a team that is already vulnerable and now further weakened by substitutes. We expect at least three goals.
HSV – Leverkusen Women Head-to-Head / H2H Record
Head to Head: 1 – 2 – 5
The two teams have faced each other eight times so far, and for the most part, the encounters have been one-sided affairs, as Leverkusen leads the head-to-head record with five wins. In the Bundesliga, the Rhinelanders have remained completely unbeaten against the HSV women in five matches (four wins, one draw). However, Leverkusen was eliminated from the DFB-Pokal just last November in a penalty shootout at the Volksparkstadion—a result recorded as a draw in the statistics—and had also suffered a 2-3 defeat to the Hansa women in the cup back in 2008.
HSV – Leverkusen Women Prediction
Although the Hamburg women prevailed in the penalty shootout in their last cup clash, our prediction for the otherwise one-sided league rivalry between HSV and Leverkusen Women points toward an away win for the Rhinelanders. Hamburg’s extensive injury list, coupled with the coach’s suspension, and the tactical maturity of the Werkself—who are still in the hunt for a European spot—should tip the scales here, especially since the HSV women have repeatedly reached their limits, particularly defensively, having already conceded 50 goals in 21 league games.
