For the third straight year Hamburg's status as the only team to have played every season in the German Bundesliga's First Division came down to the final day of the 34-game season. Unlike the past two seasons, however, this year HSV avoided relegation with room to spare, beating Augsburg, 3-1.Two years ago Hamburg advanced by a one-goal difference after a two game play-off with the number 3 team in the second division. Last year, as reported on this blog, HSV was again in a play-off, this time with Karlsruhe, and was 12 minutes from relegation when it scored a game-tying goal, then a go-ahead goal in overtime, then saw its keeper stop a penalty to avoid demotion.
By comparison, this year was a breeze. Hamburg started the day with 38 points, tied for 12th place with Darmstadt and Augsburg. Hoffenheim was in 15th place with 37 points and Eintracht Frankfurt in 16th with 36. The 17th and 18th teams are automatically relegated while the 16th plays the 3rd place finisher in the second division for a spot in the top league. As it turned out, even if HSV had lost it would have retained its place in the First Division because Werder Bremen beat Frankfurt and leapfrogged over them into 13th place.
So next year, when the 53rd Bundesliga season kicks off, Hamburger Sport Verein will be there, just has it has always been.
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