HSV – Manchester City, part deux

By: Chris | April 16th, 2009

The return leg of the UEFA Europa Cup tie between Hamburg and City is on tap for Thursday at the City of Manchester stadium. And yet again, HSV are going to be short-handed.

Both Collin Benjamin and Guy (”don’t spell my name Dimmel”) Demel stayed in Hamburg as the side travelled to Manchester Tuesday–they are still nursing thigh injuries. A bigger question though is the availability of Alex Silva, who is rehabbing a torn hamstring. Alex Silva did not travel with the squad on Tuesday as he remained in Hamburg for a “fitness” test with the trainers. He did travel to England Wednesday, though, and is in the squad for tonight’s match. My guess is that Jol will not play our steady Brazilian with the high number of matches in the coming weeks. That and the fact that HSVII defender Kai Fabian Schulz also travelled to Manchester cements it for me that Alex Silva will not be used in anything except the most dire emergencies.

Here’s one hack’s attempt at a starting XI:

Rost

Boateng Gravgaard Mathijsen Aogo/Jansen*

Jarolim Aogo/Jansen*

Trochowski Pitroipa

Olic Petric

*Either Jansen or Aogo will lineup at left back and the other will line up in the midfield with Jarolim. Flip a coin if you want, but my guess is that Aogo starts at left back.

The last second loss to Stuttgart on Sunday (which I admittedly did not see) makes me think that the lads are tiring a bit, and if you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I want nothing more than HSV to play in the Champions League next season. So if something has to go, let it be the DFB-Pokal or the UEFA Cup. Let’s concentrate on the Bundesliga. With our crappy goal differential, we are essentially a point behind anyone we’re level with in the table and will need all the help we can get.

Bottom line: City have not played well as of late, but they are very strong at home. HSV looked tired in their last Bundesliga match, and the lack of depth due to injuries will take its toll soon with the number of matches to be played in a very short amount to time. That said, HSV dominated the leg in Hamburg, and if not for the heroics of Shay Given, City would have been on the wrong end of a Barcelona-esque result (maybe 5 or 6-1). I’ll give City credit for playing at home and their brilliant keeper could possibly steal the match. If Robinho decides to show up, he may have an impact on the result, and I don’t have word as to whether former HSV stud Vincent Kompanyreturn from injury this week. Don’t discount that a Martin Jol managed side has never, ever lost to Manchester City (6-0-0 with Spurs, 1-0-0 with HSV). Hamburg have too much for City, but City is tough at home.

SWAG prediction: 2:2, with goals from Robinho and Stephen Ireland, and Trochowski and Petric. Let’s get it on.