The opening contest of match-day twenty-three of the Bundesliga saw Borussia Mönchengladbach’s effort to end their long title drought was slowed with a 1-1 draw honours even, with visiting Hamburger SV.

Never sleight of attacking venom, die Fohlen pushed for early with Marco Reus surging down the right barely five minutes into the contest only to his delivery off-course. To the backdrop of the adoring Borussia faithful in full song, Lucien Favre’s men narrowly missed taking the lead midway of the half as Roel Brouwers latched onto a corner from the back-post but his goal-bound effort from ten metres was steered clear by Dennis Diekmeier at the line. The Gladbacher’s continued to be the more impressive of the two sides with Igor de Camargo played in sublimely by Roman Neustädter at the twenty-eight minute only to see HSV ‘keeper Jaroslav Drobný denied the former Standard Liège man. Borussia continued to press for the opening mark and just before the break Juan Arango’s free kick twenty-five metres head on to the goal was deflected into the down left corner of the net by Mike Hanke to claim the one goal advantage.

The re-start saw the complexion change 180° with HSV clearly the aggressors, with Tolgay Arslan missing from fourteen metres before levelling six minutes shy of the hour. Coming via a corner from the left, the ball rattled in the box before the twenty-one year old shuttled it into the net from close range. Lucien Favre’s side seemed to be shaken from their moorings after the equalizer and much of the time focused upon withstanding pressure and unable to mount a charge. Quickly becoming a box-to-box affair with chances meagre, Borussia squandered the winning strike at the death of time when Marco Reus’s delivery from a corner spotted Juan Arango but could not convert with open goal beckoning and the contest concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

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The magical resurgence of Borussia Mönchengladbach of manager Lucien Favre wove another brilliant chapter as they claimed three points in the visit to Hamburg with a 1-0 victory in match day six of the Bundesliga campaign. With the result Die Fohlen, a far memory from the side that stared at what seemed to be certain relegation last winter, are locked with Werder Bremen at the top of the table ahead of Bayern’s visit of Schalke 04 on Sunday.

Coming off their inspiring victory over Kaiserslautern, Borussia manager Lucien Favre made a single change to his starting eleven with Patrick Herrmann for Mike Hanke. True to recent form, Borussia showcased a tight defending line that rarely allowed quality looks at standout goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. After a Marco Reus effort via Patrick Herrmann drifted wide, HSV launched its first notable advanced via a left flank counter but David Jarolim could not make contact on the cross. Through the break, play was box-to-box with Marc-André ter Stegen only called upon to pull in Mladen Petrić’s easy to deal with free-kick.

Borussia came straight out of the chute after the break as three minutes in Marco Reus charged the centre of the pitch before sending the ball to his left for Igor de Camargo. With a straight bead on goal, the former Standard Liège mans effort was stopped spectacularly by ‘keeper Jaroslav Drobný to the delight of the home supporters. Borussia began to exert more pressure with Jaroslav Drobný later called upon to snuff out Juan Arango’s free-kick from the right that managed to skip through the box. The contest was not shy of controversy as prior to the hour Robert Tesche, at the back box, nodded a cross from the left which was cleared off the line by Filip Daems though there was some debate if it was a hand-ball. However it would not be long until the deadlock was broken as six minutes past the hour Igor de Camargo leapt high above Slobodan Rajković to nod in Juan Arango’s free-kick from the left to give Borussia the lead they would not relinquish. Mr. Favre, quickly shuttled Raúl Bobadilla and Håvard Nordtveit for Thorben Marx and Patrick Herrmann as Borussia dominated play. Borussia had ample opportunity to increase the lead but HSV ‘keeper Jaroslav Drobný made a brilliant stop first on Marco Reus before a stunning reflex save on Juan Arango from ten metres. Despite the goalkeeper’s heroics HSV suggested little going forward and with the final whistle Borussia Mönchengladbach returned home with the 1-0 victory.

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Defending Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund started the new campaign where they left off with a 3-1 devastation of visiting Hamburger SV in front of a capacity crowd at Westfalenstadion.

The evening got underway with the adoring faithful in full song, celebrating the championship season and for that matter their voices were heard throughout ninety minutes as Jürgen Klopp’s men dominated from start to finish.

Despite being without Paraguayan international Lucas Barrios, Marcel Schmelzer and Neven Subotić due to injury, the Dormunders attacked with the finest of technical efficiency. Slowly sizing up their visitors from the north, BVB began to carve out openings and at seventeenth minute struck the telling blow with a quick counter on the right as Kevin Großkreutz wisely distanced himself on the far left. Via the brilliant service of nineteen year-old Mario Götze, Kevin Großkreutz received the ball on the left and from the edge of the area delivered off the far corner past HSV goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobný. Die Schwarzgelben billowed with confidence and after seeing two efforts rasp off the woodwork doubled the margin a minute shy of the half-hour. Penetrating the HSV defenders Mario Götze received the ball back from Robert Lewandowski in a sumptuous back-heeled one-two and without fail slotted in past the goalkeeper. While there was still an hour to play the match appeared to be fait accompli as the Dormunders were imposing, confident and made not the slightest of errors.

In search of a solution, HSV manager Michael Oenning summoned Marcell Jansen for Eljero Elia at the break but BVB showed no mercy and added to their lead at the forty-eighth minute. With Mario Götze at the helm, the young gun combined with Sven Bender on the right to shift the ball to Kevin Großkreutz, who after seeing his initial close-range effort denied slotted the rebound in for his second of the evening. Merciful Jürgen Klopp’s men eased back on the petrol and though Robert Tesche spoiled Roman Weidenfeller clean sheet with a scrappy goal from ten metres at the seventy-ninth minute, it mattered little as Borussia Dortmund claimed a resounding 3-1 victory.

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Eintracht Frankfurt’s difficult start to the Rückrunde continued with a 1-0 loss to host Hamburger SV at the Volksparkstadion. With the result, Armin Veh’s side pull level with Bayern München at the fifth spot in the Bundesliga table, whilst Eintracht rests eighth.

Coming off their loss to Hannover 96, Eintracht Frankfurt saw the host’s post an early chance at the ninth minute, resulting in goalkeeper Oka Nikolov stopping Änis Ben-Hatira’s offering that came via a fine through ball from Zé Roberto. Chances were sparing in the opening half with the most notable event occurring just past hour, when a collision between Alexander Meier and Gojko Kačar when challenging for a header resulted in both players forced to leave the contest due to injury. After a further effort by Änis Ben-Hatira came up for naught, the uneventful half concluded with the scoreless draw intact.

At the re-start, Armin Veh summoned Croatian international Mladen Petrić in for Jonathan Pitroipa and HSV quickly took charge of the encounter, as the visitors seem more intent on defending. Cueing up for the goal, HSV was dictating the run of play when they scored the contests lone goal five minutes past the hour a Mladen Petrić, at the back post, slid to turn in Änis Ben-Hatira’s sublime low left-footed cross from the right. Eintracht was showing little going forward but with six minutes remaining, Marcel Heller saw his close range header deflect wide. Comfortably locking down their visitors modest advances, Hamburger SV closed the match out to claim the full three points with a 1-0 victory.

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Hamburger SV advanced to Europa League semi-finals past Standard de Liège after defeating the Belgian side 3-1 in the second leg of their tie at Stade Maurice Dufrasne to comfortably take the aggregate 5-2.

After claiming the opening leg 2-1 at the Volksparkstadion, Bruno Labbadia’s side came out aggressively in Liège and opened the scoring at the twentieth minute when Mladen Petrić, from point blank range, headed Zé Roberto’s cross into the net. Twelve minutes later, via Sébastien Pocognoli’s free kick from the right, Igor De Camargo got under HSV’s defenders to head the ball in at the back post. However, three minutes later in one of the highlight goal’s of the year Mladen Petrić, from thirteen metres out, scissor kicked Dennis Aogo’s cross from the left flank to pull HSV in front 2-1. Now up 4-2 in aggregate, Hamburg knew that it would take three goals by hosts and appropriately locked down the affair. Though Standard tried to pry open their defence, they had little luck and following an added-time strike by Paolo Guerrero, HSV laid claim to the 3-1 victory.

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Hamburger SV overcame a tough performance by Standard Liège to defeat the Belgian side 2-1 in the opening leg of their Europa League quarterfinal tie at the Volksparkstadion.

After a murky start, the visitors took at 1-0 lead at the half-hour when Dieumerci Mbokani took advantage of poor defending to nod in Sébastien Pocognoli’s corner. HSV came back quickly and after a number of notable advances were snuffed out, Mladen Petrić levelled from the spot at the forty-third minute after Marcos Camozzato was adjudged for Jonathan Pitroipa. HSV continued to apply pressure and just before the break took the 2-1 lead as Ruud van Nistelrooy re-directed Dennis Aogo’s cross from the left side. After the break, Dieumerci Mbokani had a perfect chance to square the match but his effort bounded off the woodwork. For the balance of the match, HSV dictated the run of play and the Belgian’s were void of attacking threats. Bruno Labbadia’s side had ample chances to increase the lead but finishing deserted them for the balance of the contest and had to be satisfied with a 2-1 victory.

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Hamburger SV rebounded from recent problems to thwart Schalke 04’s championship efforts with a 2-2 draw at the Volksparkstadion. With the result, HSV sit at sixth in the Bundesliga table, whilst Schalke remains a point off first place Bayern München.

The early stages of the affair saw Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost loom large as he as he stopped menacing efforts by Jefferson Farfán and Kevin Kurányi. After withstanding those chances, the hosts opened the scoring five minutes shy of the break as Ruud van Nistelrooy volleyed a rebound of Piotr Trochowski’s free kick into the net, giving HSV the 1-0 lead at the break.

Two minutes past the hour Kevin Kurányi brough the match level as he latched onto an errant clearance by David Rozehnal and nodded the ball to the back of the net. Only six minutes later Ivan Rakitić gave Schalke the 2-1 lead from the spot after Ruud van Nistelrooy was adjudged a penalty for his foul on Alexander Baumjohann. The Croatian international took the penalty a second time after the match day referee ruled his teammates entered the area but that did not deter him on the second effort. After dodging a high quality chance by Schalke, HSV lodged the leveller with thirteen minutes remaining in regulation Jonathan Pitroipa turned in Piotr Trochowski’s cross. Though Schalke continued to looked likely to find the winner, HSV managed to hold on as the match concluded as a 2-2 draw, honours even.

Schalke 04 returns to play on Wednesday against Bayern München in the DFB Pokal before visiting Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday, whilst Hamburger SV visits Borussia Mönchengladbach the following day.

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Hamburg withstood a touch challenge from Anderlecht to advance to Europa League quarterfinals, winning the aggregate 5-4 despite losing today’s encounter at Constant Vanden Stockstadion 4-3.

After winning the opening leg 3-1 at Volksparkstadion, HSV had to be confident for the return engagement in Belgium. The early start of the match seemed like the contest would be a modest affair before erupting in three rapid-fire goals. Bruno Labbadia’s side went out in front 1-0 three minutes shy of the break as Jérôme Boateng pulled down an errant cross on the left side of the area before deftly sending the ball to the opposite corner. The Belgian side should resolve as only two minutes later teen phenom, Romelu Lukaku nodded in Mbark Boussoufa’s right wing cross. Moments later, after Jérôme Boateng was adjudged a penalty on fouling Matías Suárez in the area and young Argentine striker drove the ensuing effort into the net to give the hosts the 2-1 lead at the break.

Nine minutes after the break Marcell Jansen sent Ruud van Nistelrooy’s cross into the back of the net to square the match and restore HSV’s two-goal aggregate margin, however once again the hosts answered the call. Five minutes later, Ariël Jacobs went out in front 3-2 on the day as Lucas Biglia sent the ball in from twelve metres, leading to an action packed final half-hour. Six minutes after the hour, one of the sports top teen striker showed his play making skills as Romelu Lukaku delivered a cross from the left that Mbark Boussoufa sent in from close range to give Anderlecht the 4-2 lead and square the the aggregate. However, with a quarter-hour left on the clock Croatian international Mladen Petrić was played through the Belgian defenders before sending a left-footed effort into the net from thirteen metres to send Hamburger SV to the Europa League quarterfinals.

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Bayer 04 Leverkusen rebounded from last weeks loss to defeat Hamburger SV 4-2 victory at BayArena. With the result, Bayer 04 hold down the third spot of the Bundesliga table, whilst HSV ease back to fifth.

Werkself gave their home supporters something to cheer about midway of the opening half as Stefan Kießling was played through by Tranquilo Barnetta before driving his fifteenth goal of the campaign past HSV ‘keeper Frank Rost. HSV levelled the match eleven minutes later as Joris Mathijsen’s long ball came to Zé Roberto after a defensive error saw René Adler and Sami Hyypiä collide and the veteran made no mistake sending it in to net.

The fast pace continued after the break and five minutes shy of the hour Swiss international Eren Derdiyok headed in Daniel Schwaab’s cross to restore Bayer 04’s lead. Seven minutes later the margin was doubled as Stefan Kießling dove to head in Renato Augusto’s. However, at the eighty-third HSV clawed back a goal as David Rozehnal redirected Piotr Trochowski’s cross into the net. Any chance of comeback ended quickly as the hosts stormed back and a minute later Eren Derdiyok turned provider as his cross was sent in by Gonzalo Castro to seal the 4-2 victory.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen returns to play on Saturday as they face a showdown against Borussia Dortmund at Westfalenstadion. HSV faces Anderlecht in the second-leg of their Europa League tie on Thursday before welcoming Schalke 04 to the Volksparkstadion on Sunday.

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Led by veteran Ruud van Nistelrooy, Hamburger SV stormed past Anderlecht 3-1 in the opening leg of their Europa League round of sixteen tie at the Volksparkstadion.

Bruno Labbadia’s side came out with attacking intent, led by Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoying his first starting assignment since moving from Real Madrid in late January. HSV went out in-front 1-0 midway of the opening half as Dennis Aogo’s free kick into the box was not cleared resulting in Joris Mathijsen driving the ball into the net from ten metres. Five minutes prior to the break, Ruud van Nistelrooy calmly accepted Eljero Elia’s deft, chip provision from the left by-line and slotted the ball in from an acute angle to double HSV’s lead. The Belgians halved the margin on the last strike before the break as from twenty-two metres Jonathan Legear sent a free kick into the back of the net past HSV ‘keeper Frank Rost.

After the break, HSV continued to show greater attacking pulse with Mladen Petrić and Ruud van Nistelrooy continuously at the centre of the storm. After a number of efforts came up for naught, HSV went out in-front 3-1 as David Jarolim latched onto a loose ball before firing it in from fifteen metres. With thirteen minutes remaining Anderlecht manager Ariël Jacobs, summoned Matías Suárez into the match and the young Argentine immediately began to pose problems for HSV. The visiting Belgians continued to search for a way back into the match but it was not to be as Hamburger SV claimed the 3-1 victory.

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