Fascinating clash this afternoon in the Bundesliga when Hamburger SV take on Schalke 04. If Schalke win they will go top of the table. A victory for SV will take the Europa Cup quarter finalists into fifth place.
Schalke have performed well since the Christmas break and currently sit in pole position in the last eight games table, having won five,drawn two and lost once away to Wolfsberg. Magath the coach has already won the Bundesliga with two different sides and he is going for an historic treble with the Royal Blues. The wily Magath is taking it a game at a time and realises that a victory today will almost guarantee a minimum of Europa Cup football next season.
Hamburg have the distraction of an extended run in the Europa Cup and this seems to have impacted their Bundesliga performance,only eleventh in the eight match table, and the squad. Qualification against Standard Liege came at a price Dennis Aogo, Marcell Jansen and Jerome Boateng all doubts for the match today due to injuries.
"Jansen took a knock on his foot, Dennis is still battling with a groin strain and Jerome has a dead leg, which are always painful,We will have to wait for the final training session before we know for sure.'' explained HSV coach Bruno Labbadia.
Magath has no such injury doubts with Heiko Westermann likely to recover from a calf strain to keep his place in the team. Initially we had this one down for a draw but selection issues and the victory prize Schalke 04 means that the advice is to play the 04 boys at 3.2 with Ladbrokes.
