Hamburger SV have responded to Rangers on Twitter after the Gers wished the German club good luck ahead of their high-profile derby fixture against St Pauli.
Last month, the Gers and Die Rothosen finally added some formality to a long-standing association with the announcement of an official partnership between the two clubs.
It is described as a ‘wide-ranging’ collaboration which ‘binds the two clubs closer together heading into the future’ [Rangers.co.uk].
An ‘integrated media campaign’ is part of the agreement, so there should be plenty of communication between the two clubs via social channels over the coming seasons.
Even before the partnership became official, though, there were instances of the clubs exchanging messages ahead of big matches and with the next instalment of the fierce Hamburg derby set to take place on Monday evening, the Gers sent a supportive message in the morning.
“Derby Day in Hamburg – Come on @HSV_English – #nurderHSV”, wrote the Rangers account in response to a preview tweet from HSV.
The German club then acknowledged the support with a response in the afternoon.
HSV are traditionally a top-flight side but are currently in their third season in the second tier following a first relegation in over fifty years at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.
The 2. Bundesliga has proven to be a difficult division to escape and it looks like going right down to the wire once again this season.
City rivals St Pauli are no direct threat to HSV’s promotion bid, as they are way back in 12th in the table.
However, the Gers’ partners do face competition from VfL Bochum, Holstein Kiel and Greuther Fürth.
All three of those sides are currently above fourth-placed HSV, but an away win in Monday’s derby, which kicks off at 7:30pm, would take Daniel Thioune’s side back to the top of the table, 23 games into the season.
Hamburg are challenging for promotion but two former Gers look near certain to be relegated by the end of the season after their club suffered a 21st defeat in 26 league matches over the weekend.
