Facing the drop, Hamburg go mystic

Hamburg must feel like they have tried everything to avoid relegation. Thorsten Fink and Bert van Marwijk have come and gone, leaving current incumbent Mirko Slomka battling against the tide to preserve HSV's unique status as an ever-present Bundesliga member.

There is a mythical sense around this unmatched record of 50 years without relegation. It is the base of an identity that Hamburg have retained for many years, long after their trophy-laden heyday in the 1970s and 80s.

Hamburg have two matches left to salvage their Bundesliga status. Sporting director Oliver Kreuzer, however, has hardly oozed optimism of late. "We have done everything and all we get is this performance. I'm lost for words," he said after the 3-1 defeat at FC Augsburg.

Lost for words but apparently not ideas, or desperation, Hamburg are even reaching out to a spiritual healer. His work didn't bear much fruit in the match at Augsburg, but the goal is to spur the players on at least to securing the 16th position, which would guarantee a second bite at the cherry in the promotion/relegation play-off.

"Bioenergetics" specialist Joseph Kuhnert told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper this week that he was looking to "bring body, soul and spirit back into harmony" among the HSV squad. Kuhnert, a former banker, worked with the club in 2007 as well.

"I had a special coach who trained me in the storage of high energy in mountain crystals," he said. "They will then be arranged in a certain pattern - the Flower of Life."

"This pattern can also be found on many holy temples, even from the times of the old Egyptians. From time immemorial, it has been clear that it helps."

Despite providing a pleasing geometric symmetry, the Flower of Life arrangement - made up of multiple, evenly-spaced, overlapping circles encased within one giant circle - is unlikely to prove a viable formation for Slomka to take to the field on Saturday.

Calling for a saviour

Meanwhile, Hamburg's attacking-midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu - who has provided a rare glimpse of creativity for the Bundesliga dinos in recent weeks - told the German media that he prays every day for the club to dodge the drop.

"Only god can save us now," Calhanoglu said.

Even such intervention might not suffice against the wounded animal that is Bayern Munich, humbled in the Champions League on Tuesday and out for revenge. The Germans won the league championship in March - the earliest title in league history - but have since dropped into first gear, losing at FC Augsburg, then at home to Borussia Dortmund. Bayern have only managed to keep a single clean sheet in their last 11 games.

The 4-0 trouncing at the hands of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday brought strong criticism towards Pep Guardiola and his various strategies. If there ever was a bad time to face the Bavarians, this could be it.

Bundesliga approaches climax

Elsewhere, the 33rd weekend of fixtures sees all matches played at the same time on Saturday (15:30 CEST), with extra drama at the bottom of the table. Eintracht Braunschweig are in 18th position, two points behind Hamburg, with a home match against FC Augsburg. The Lions have performed well since the winter break, with key victories over Hannover 96 and Mainz helping them to cling onto their dream of Bundesliga survival.

In 17th, Nuremberg are in a problematic position. After dismissing Gertjan Verbeek this week, the club lost 2-0 at Mainz under the guidance of U23 coach Roger Prinzen. They travel to Hannover 96 on Saturday, facing Tayfun Korkut's side who are safe from the drop-zone after some fine performances of late.

The other interesting matches in the penultimate matchday revolve around the battle for European qualification. Bayer Leverkusen, currently on 55 points, hold the all-important fourth position that secures a qualifying spot for next season's UEFA Champions League. Leverkusen, with Sascha Lewandowski continuing at the helm, will travel to Eintracht Frankfurt having won two of their last three outings.

One point behind Leverkusen, Wolfsburg will visit Stuttgart, who are almost mathematically safe from relegation. Then, in sixth and seventh respectively, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Mainz will play out a crucial encounter at Borussia-Park with both teams looking to improve their seedings for next season's UEFA Europa League - or in Gladbach's case, pushing for fourth.

Although Schalke are in third, Wolfsburg are still able to catch up on the Royal Blues, assuming the Wolves win their last two matches and Jens Keller's men drop points. Schalke make the trip to in-form Freiburg, who have taken 17 points from the last available 24.

In other matches, Borussia Dortmund host Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park, whilst Werder Bremen take on Hertha Berlin in a match between two mid-table teams.