City derby in focus: St. Pauli as favorite – Meijer over HSV and St. Pauli!

City derby in focus: St. Pauli as favorite – Meijer over HSV and St. Pauli!

The anticipation in Hamburg could hardly be greater: The eagerly awaited city derby between HSV and FC St. Pauli is scheduled for Friday. Erik Meijer, a former HSV player, takes on the role of an expert on Sky and has made his position clear: St. Pauli is the favorite for this encounter. The Dutchman considers FC St. Pauli to be a “cool club” that has not only developed its own identity, but is also making its way into the Bundesliga despite all the challenges. Meijer, who stormed the city derbies with HSV and St. Pauli, attaches particular importance to the current form of the two teams.

“The pressure is enormous,” explains Meijer. Both teams have set themselves the goal of securing relegation in the Second Bundesliga. The ex-player sees positive approaches here: HSV recently played well defensively against Mönchengladbach, but there was a lack of clear scoring chances. On the other hand, St. Pauli showed a courageous performance against BVB and thus fueled their belief in a chance of promotion. Despite all these considerations, HSV's home advantage could become a decisive factor, as Meijer notes.

Trend-setting duel

The city derby is not only seen as a sporting highlight, but also has a major influence on the mood within the club. A win could mean a mental boost for the players and fans and have a decisive impact on the course of the season. “There is tremendous anticipation in the city, something is coming,” Meijer continued. He appeals to supporters to turn the enthusiasm into a peaceful sports festival, without riots. This is particularly important in the context of the rivalry between the two clubs and should be a focus for everyone involved.

A look at the last derby on May 3, 2024 shows how important this encounter is. HSV won 1-0 against St. Pauli and remains in the race for promotion. Robert Glatzel scored the decisive goal in the 85th minute in the Volksparkstadion in front of 56,100 euphoric spectators who supported HSV. Even though St. Pauli desperately needed the win, their performance in the last duel was disappointing, especially after a botched goalkeeper corner and a saved penalty

A classic rivalry

This competition is not just a local event, but a classic example of great football rivalries that are deeply rooted in fan culture. The fight for supremacy in the city is one of the most intense city derbies in Germany, with the meeting between HSV and St. Pauli always providing special emotions. Loud kicker.de Such rivalries are of great importance worldwide and have a lasting impact on the football landscape.

The wind is blowing in Hamburg, and the upcoming 90 minutes could decide more than just three points. The signs are exciting - the football team can look forward to a hotly contested derby that should be an unforgettable experience for both the players and the fans.