Two teams at the wrong end of the table met in a crucial clash at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday afternoon, with both knowing three points were absolutely vital in the hopes for survival.
The visitors, Hamburg, actually started the game four places above their hosts Stuttgart in 14th place, but just two points separated the teams with them sitting on 42 and 40 points respectively.
Bruno Labaddia, who has lead somewhat of a resurgence in the HSV camp, knew that with the correct results a victory would see his side safe for another season. Huub Stevens on the other hand needed three points desperately, and there is no place like home for Die Roten to get them.
Cheered on by a raucous away support, and with a plush Dinosaur toy on top of Labaddia's dugout as a lucky mascot, Hamburg started nervously with Didavi shooting straight at Adler from a 2nd minute corner.
Ivica Olic and Pierre-Michel Lasogga suffered a nasty collision from a cross in the 4th minute, but both were able to continue despite the latter sustaining a shoulder and head knock.
In a game that was full of fouls early on, HSV made VfB pay with a superb delivery in the 12th minute that was met by the head of who else but Gojko Kaçar. His glance was enough to beat Ulreich and give Hamburg a crucial lead, scoring his third of the season in the process, all of which have been vital goals for the Dinosaurs.
The game was level not long later and it was the captain to the rescue for VfB in the 26th minute, after Christian Gentner spun and fired a low drive from a Daniel Schwaab cross that beat Adler, making it 1-1.
Gentner was allowed space just two minutes after the goal, hitting a stinging shot that Rene Adler did well to save low to his left.
It was the home team applying all the pressure, and sure enough they took the lead 10 minutes before the break, with Martin Harnik reacting first to a deflected corner thundering into the roof of the net; 2-1 Stuttgart.
The hosts continued to dominate until the break, with a couple of half chances falling harmlessly for HSV, but going into the break Hamburg had moved into the bottom three on live scores, so Labaddia had to motivate his team for the 2nd half.
Stevens on the other hand will have asked for more of the same intensity and determination to help themselves in an ever changing relegation picture.
Ten minutes into the second half the game began to get heated in reflection of just what was at stake. Firstly, Adler flattened Ginczek while running back to his goal, earning a yellow card, before Olic was booked for a swinging arm on Serey Die.
On the hour mark Didavi sent a cheeky quick free kick narrowly over the near right post as he aimed to catch Adler napping. Just a minute later he found space to shoot from just outside the box, but the HSV stopper made a comfortable save.
A huge chance for 3-1 came in the 62nd minute as Ginczek almost latched on to Schwaab's feed across goal that would have been a tap-in, but Djourou made a crucial slide to deny the opportunity. From the corner, Baumgartl had a free header from a second cross that was straight at the 'keeper in a mad few minutes at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Kaçar and Didavi squared up in the 69th minute after a foul by Westermann on Gentner, with both receiving a caution. Harnik could have made it 3-1 in minute 81, but his half volley was tipped wide from the left side of the box.
One minute later Kostic could have wrapped up the points with only Adler to beat, but his shot was somehow saved before looping onto the bar and clear.
Werner had a big chance in the 88th minute as the game opened up fully, but Rene Adler made yet another vital save to keep his side in the game once again.
Rafael van der Vaart picked up his 10th yellow card of the season as Stuttgart ran the clock down, meaning he would miss the final game at home to Schalke.
The game ended 2-1 to Stuttgart, a monumental three points made all the sweeter by doing the double over Hamburg, who sunk into 17th place while Die Roten leapfrogged them to 16th.
Stuttgart will know that a win against Paderborn on Matchday 38 will see them not in the bottom two, while Schalke's visit to Hamburg is one of the key fixtures of a tantilising final day.