North German rivals get ready for round two

It is normally ill-advised to criticise your opponents ahead of a big match, so when Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese proffered his own critique of Hamburger SV before last week's German Cup semi-final it would not have been a surprise had his words come back to haunt him.

Hero
Instead, Wiese proved the hero. His three penalty saves in the shootout that followed a 1-1 draw in Hamburg earned Bremen a place in the final – further enflaming a rivalry which has never experienced a sequence of games like this. The German Cup was round one. Tonight at the Weserstadion the bell rings again, pitting the two northern heavyweights together for the second of four meetings in the space of 19 days, in their UEFA Cup semi-final first leg.

Low-key
Wiese's outburst was out of keeping with Bremen's usual low-key approach. Only 95 kilometres separate the two cities, but they feel worlds apart – Hamburg, cosmopolitan and brash; Bremen, provincial and quiet. The contrast applies to the clubs as well. There may be a UEFA Cup final at stake, but for Bremen it was business as usual on Wednesday. Training was open to fans and more than 200 stretched along the touchline at the practice pitch outside the Weserstadion. There was time for autographs and photos as supporters wished their heroes well, urging Thomas Schaaf and his players to put one over their rivals.

Intense spell
For fans of both clubs, anticipation is tinged with fear of losing with so much at stake. Hamburg have won six German titles to Bremen's four, but the latter's have all come since the advent of the Bundesliga in 1963. Bremen have arguably grown into the dominant force in the region, being crowned champions as recently as 2004 and regularly appearing in the UEFA Champions League.

Controversy
Hamburg have not won the Bundesliga since 1983, the year they lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup. Power, however, may be shifting again, with HSV gunning for the title this season and Bremen languishing in mid-table. This series of games could determine bragging rights for some time to come. For now the momentum is with Bremen, conquerors of HSV in the German Cup, a victory guaranteed to rile HSV supporters. Wiese had been the centre of a storm last term following a high-footed lunge on striker Ivica Olić during a league match, so the sight of him charging the length of the pitch to celebrate with Bremen fans last Wednesday showed how emotive this fixture is.

Transfers
Eighteen players have played for both clubs including current Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost, but direct transfers between the two are uncommon. Hamburg general manager Dietmar Beiersdorfer crossed the divide in 1992 and reportedly cried all the way down the autobahn to Bremen after being sold. Going the other way, defender Ailton retains a place in the heart of Bremen supporters despite joining HSV. The Brazilian's glaring miss in the final game of the 2005/06 campaign between the sides allowed Bremen to clinch second spot in the Bundesliga and a UEFA Champions League berth at Hamburg's expense.

Title race
The most thrilling duel of all, though, came in 1982/83 when HSV pipped Bremen to the title on goal difference. As Hamburg flew home after beating FC Schalke 04 on the final day of the season to clinch the crown, the pilot was asked to circle the Weserstadion twice as a mark of respect for a worthy adversary. HSV had gone a Bundesliga record 36 matches unbeaten from 16 January 1982 to 29 January 1983. Naturally it was Bremen who brought that run to a close with a 3-2 win at the Weserstadion.

True test
Bremen may be out of the running in the Bundesliga but they have the chance to dent HSV's ambitions when the teams meet on 10 May in the final instalment of this heavyweight contest. First, though, it is time to take the Nord-derby on to the European stage. Round one went to Bremen, now the real tests begin.