Bundesliga’s Struggling Duo: Who Will Snap Their Slump First?

The table may suggest a degree of normalcy in northern Germany, with HSV, newly promoted, sitting in thirteenth and Werder Bremen in ninth after a tumultuous summer.

Historically, northern derbies have seen both clubs battling for greater prestige, particularly in the mid-2000s when they were vying for the position behind FC Bayern. However, there have been tougher times, especially during the second-division derbies in the Corona era.

A closer look reveals that both teams share an alarming similarity this season: their attacking units resemble seagulls pecking on fish sandwiches—ineffectual and harmless.

As the first Bundesliga northern derby since 2018 approaches, a crucial question arises: Which team will escape its slump first?

Big Names, Big Disappointments

Both clubs face the same challenge: strikers struggling to score. HSV’s number nines have netted just two goals this season, with Ransford Königsdörffer and Robert Glatzel each contributing one.

Werder’s situation appears even bleaker: Keke Topp and Victor Boniface have yet to find the back of the net, with midfield stalwart Jens Stage ironically serving as the top scorer with four goals. This lack of offensive output has been a hot topic among fans of both clubs.

Each club started the season with ambitious plans, signing strikers who seemed beyond their financial reach. Yussuf Poulsen joined HSV, while Werder brought in Victor Boniface.

Two notable signings with high expectations, both available due to injuries that hampered their prior seasons. Yet, neither has scored a single goal.

For HSV, Poulsen’s struggles continue as he’s faced multiple injuries since joining and has accumulated just 183 Bundesliga minutes.

Conversely, Boniface has mostly been fit but lacks sharpness, with reports indicating fitness and potentially weight issues. This has led to concerns about his training attitude. The anticipated reinforcements have yet to deliver.

As Talented as Unlucky

The currently favored strikers—Königsdörffer at HSV and Topp at Werder—face similar issues. Both are young talents, yet they lack the experience needed to carry a Bundesliga attack.

Königsdörffer has netted only once, plagued by misfortune with disallowed goals and close misses.

Topp experienced frustration too, as two of his goals were ruled out by VAR. His candid comments reflect his annoyance: “It pisses me off, it annoys me. It doesn’t completely pass me by. But if I tense up, nothing will work.”

Coaches remain supportive of their young prospects, with Werder’s Horst Steffen praising Topp’s development, and HSV’s Polzin acknowledging Königsdörffer’s contributions to the team's possession play.

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Will the Strikers Break Their Drought in the Derby?

Despite various tactical considerations, the fundamental truth in football is that strikers are judged based on their goal tally.

HSV faces increased pressure with Robert Glatzel, unexpectedly scoring to put his team ahead against Stuttgart before getting injured and sidelined until the year’s end. As a result, Königsdörffer is set to take on more responsibility—an opportunity waiting to be seized.

The timing is pivotal: anticipation builds for the 109th Bundesliga northern derby, awaited for seven and a half years. The rivalry intensifies, and two strikers in need of a breakthrough—Königsdörffer and Topp—will go head-to-head. Topp, a homegrown talent from Bremervörde, dreams of scoring against HSV. One of them could emerge as a hero, potentially turning current woes into a wave of euphoria.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Selim Sudheimer – 2025 Getty Images