HSV coach benches Mahdavikia again after poor play against FC Porto

IRNA - Mehdi Mahdavikia was dropped again from Hamburg's starting line-up for Saturday's Bundesliga encounter with rivals VfL Wolfsburg following his dismal performance in his team's 3-1 European Champions League home thrashing against FC Porto, the online site of the Bild newspaper said.

Mahdavikia will join Hamburg strikers Danijel Ljuboja and Boubacar Sanogo as well as goalie Sascha Kirchstein on the reserve bench.

A self-declared Bundesliga championship contender, HSV are facing relegation into the second division for the first time in its 33-year Bundesliga history as the north German football club is currently ranked 15th in the 18-team first football division.

According to local press reports, Hamburger SV are not likely to extend the Iranian defender's contract which is to end next summer.

Mahdavikia's high salary - estimated at 2.3 million euros per year - and his recent woeful play in the Bundesliga and the Champions League are cited in the German press as reasons for his imminent farewell from Hamburg.

The 29-year-old former Pirouzi player joined HSV in 2001 from VfL Bochum.