HSV – Man City UEFA Cup Preview

By: Chris | April 8th, 2009

European competition comes to the ‘Bank on Thursday as HSV take on Manchester City in the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup. BMJ (that’d be Big Martin Jol) needs some warm bodies for his side. . .

So decimated by injuries are Die Rothosen that Jol has called up reserve Volker Scmidt and Kai-Fabian Schulz from HSV II. Guy Demel (strained quadracep) and Alex Silva (torn hamstring) are both out. Jerome Boateng continues to recover from the flu and *should* be available. While Paolo Guerrero (bruised ankle) and Collin Benjamin (bruised thigh) have both been adjudged to be fit and are in the squad, Jerome Boateng is suspended for the match. Guerrero will come off the bench in support of The Croatian Combination (Olic and Petric), while Benjamin may start in the midfield in lieu of Alex Silva. If Benjamin is not 100%, look for Tomas Rincon to get the nod. Marcel Ndjengs is available as well, but isn’t a viable starter.

Mikael Tavares and Albert Streit are cup tied and unavailable, although neither would likely play if they were. Good thing they are loaners because they both have, ahem, failed to impress so far. SO, here’s one guy’s shot at a lineup:

Rost

Boateng Benjamin Gravgaard Mathijsen Aogo

Trochowski Benjamin Jansen Jarolim Jansen Guerrero

Olic Petric

For Citeh, there is late word today/tonight that former HSV-er Vincent Kompany is injured and did not travel with the side to Hamburg. Nigel de Jong is obviously cup tied, but did travel with the side and is looking forward to seeing his old mates. Martin Petrov and Stephen Ireland return for the Citizens, however.

Bottom line: Hamburg are flying following the victory over TSG Saturday, but participating in 3 competitions appears to be finally taking its toll on the lads. Still, City were not impressive in their last round victory over Aalborg, needing several heroic penalty saves from Shay Givens to advance. Martin Jol has never lost to City as a manager, sporting a 3-3-0 record against them while managing Spurs (I may be a homer–that is to say, I am a Hamburg supporter–but Jol should be the manager of the year). SWAG Prediction: 2:1 Hamburg, with goals by Petric and Guerrero, and Robinho.

UPDATE: 09 April 1637 GMT:

The revised starting XI above came from the HSV web site this morning (US Central time). Here’s an alternative starting XI from the Abendblatt that makes a bit more sense than moving Jansen inside and putting the hobbled Guerrero wide:

Rost

Benjamin Gravgaard Mathijsen Aogo

Trochowski Jarolim Rincon Jansen

Olic Petric

Subs would be: Hesl, Schmidt, Schulz, Ndjeng, Torun, Pitroipa, Guerrero