🇩🇪 STUTTGART THRASH HAMBURG TO TAKE COMMANDING RELEGATION PLAYOFF LEAD

Hamburg’s Bundesliga promotion hopes hang by a thread after suffering a 3-0 thrashing in the first leg of the relegation playoff against Stuttgart.

Less than a week after Hamburg fans invaded the Sandhausen pitch under the assumption they had secured automatic promotion to the Bundesliga, HSV are staring another season in the 2. Bundesliga in the face.

While two Heidenheim goals in stoppage time forced the celebrating HSV fans into a playoff last time out, three Stuttgart strikes in Thursday evening’s first leg could be the undoing of the Die Rothosen this time around.

The signs were ominous from the opening minute when Konstantinos Mavropanos headed home from the opening corner of the game to snatch an early lead for the hosts.

Hamburg slowly grew into the game in the second half, but their hard work was undone by two quick-fire goals before the hour mark from former Hamburg man Josha Vagnoman and Serhou Guirassy respectively.

While the tie is only halfway done, Stuttgart appear to have broken away and dug HSV a massive hole if they are to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.