Hamburg defiant despite defeat

Hamburger SV may struggle to meet sky-high expectations over the second half of the season, having lost 2-1 at 1. FC Nürnberg on Saturday.

Stellar start
After a brilliant start to the campaign, the northern club went into the winter break second in the Bundesliga and safely into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. In the six months since the start of the campaign they have become one of Germany's big guns and strengthened their squad further with the January signings of Ailton and Nigel de Jong.

Unavoidable defeat
However, Nürnberg brought them brought down to earth with their first away defeat of the season, and over the next few months Thomas Doll's side must prove their early-season form was a major step in the club's long-term development, and not just a temporary purple patch. "I knew we would suffer our first away loss at some point," said Doll. An unavoidable defeat, perhaps, but its timing at the season's restart may cause self-doubt to creep in.

Schalke pressure
Werder Bremen's 1-0 win against DSC Arminia Bielefeld ensured Hamburg dropped into third in the table - the final UEFA Champions League qualifying position. With FC Schalke 04 just four points further back, they can ill-afford more than a brief blip in form. "I hope this is not a bad omen," said sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer after Saturday's game.

Ailton concern
The picture in the dressing room looks less than rosy, with influential playmaker Rafael van der Vaart still sidelined with a broken ankle and some fans worried that the arrival of extrovert striker Ailton could upset the chemistry that played such a significant role in their rise. Additionally, Hamburg's transformation from surprise package to title contenders means they are now a prized scalp for the rest of the division, yet Beiersdorfer remains optimistic. "We can still achieve everything by ourselves," he said.