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Slomka started winning

The 100th derby between these two clubs is played in the north of Germany. There would be no lack of tensions even without the league table being as it is. The fact is, both these teams are fighting to avoid relegation, and today's win would be worth a lot more than three points

Werder got through in the away game in Frankfurt, and got one valuable point. They had one player less from the 34th minute (Kross got sent off), and they struggled to defend themselves by the end. It was basically a match with only one goal, but they managed to keep up somehow. Right now, that one point couldn't help them climb the league table, but it could mean a lot in the end.

- This might be the match of the season. A win is worth a lot more than three points. We're aware of how important it is. Players are ready and motivated to prove themselves in front of the fans - home team coach Dutt said right away.

The sports director Eichin asked them to slow down: 

- The key is to control emotions and nerves. None of the players are allowed to do some reckless stupid thing.

Dutt won't have an easy time picking out the starting 11, especially for the defense. Of four of the players who held the defense in the last match, three will be missing today. The stopper Kross and the left defender Caldirola are suspended, and the right back Ignjovski is injured.

True, Fritz and Garcia are back in, they were chosen for the back positions in the first place, but Dutt was extremely satisfied with how Ignjovski and Caldirola played their last matches. The question is, in what shape will the new duo be? More so because this is a completely new line now. 

HSV finally defeated someone, and did it in style this time. Mirko Slomka got the stopper Rajkovic and the midfielder Jiranek to play, and both thanked him by playing great against Dortmund. The former one lead the defense that finally managed to keep the goal intact (for the first time in 11 matches), and the latter one scored for the lead.

Also, it was obvious how much the forward Lasogga means to HSV. Besides scoring the goal, he also had an assist and created problems for the opponents' defense the whole time.

Calhanoglu's fantastic goal is also worth pointing out, it took place from the free throw with 41 meters distance.

- A new match, a new chance to prove ourselves and get new points. We can't succumb to the atmosphere and the pressure from the stands. We have to play like we did against Borussia, and there won't be any problems - Slomka said.

There won't be many changes in the lineup, but Van der Vaart will be back. Slomka will use him as the second striker:

- His place is in the middle of the field with the tendency of going forward. He's an amazing player whose potential was never really used to the maximum so far.

The good news is that Lasogga's injury (he missed two practices) isn't major, and he'll be ready to play. The rest of the players from the absences list are mostly there for some time now, and HSV are used to playing without them. 

The 100th local derby is made even interesting with the fact that both teams are fighting to avoid relegation. Referee Meyer has given out more than 3 yellow cards in last 8 out of 12 games. Out of four games that he went "under", one was a Bayern's 5-0 win and one was Borussia's 6-1 win, where there weren't too many tensions. Werder and HSV are among the rougher teams in the league. In last 9 league games, Werder got 2 or more yellow cards (26 altogether) while HSV have a slightly lower average. However, HSV's lackluster spirit and lack of aggression under van Marwijk should be factored in into that. Slomka announced fighting football with lots of aggression. This will certainly be a feisty game and Meyer is not a ref who will just warn players.