Altıntop twins meet in Bundesliga clash

In their younger days and early in their professional careers they played on the same team, but since then twin brothers Hamit and Halil Altıntop have always been on opposing sides in Bundesliga clashes.

Now, aged 34, and several years removed from a head-to-head match-up, the twin midfielders meet for what could be the last time on Saturday in a crucial relegation fight when Hamit's Darmstadt welcome Halil's Augsburg.

With Darmstadt at the bottom of the German table, Hamit said that the brother against brother duel is "only a sideshow" in the pursuit of much-needed points.

He does not intend to treat his brother differently to any other opponent during the game.

"But of course I would be happy if I have the bigger smile on my face when we eat dinner together after the game," Hamit said with a grin on his face.

Hamit, previously of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Galatasaray, admitted the pair remain in daily contact.

The reunion on the pitch came about as Hamit signed for Darmstadt in January to aid their battle for top-flight survival.

"That wasn't something that could be counted on," said Halil, who was already established with Augsburg, currently 13th and above the worst of the relegation fight, at least for now.

"I wish Hamit all the best that he achieves his goal with Darmstadt and stays in the league together with us," he added.

Hamit recently ended a spell with Galatasaray and is known for success not only there but also with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, where trophies flowed freely. He also played 82 times for Turkey's national team.

Halil has 38 caps and, though without cup or league honors, has scored 64 Bundesliga goals in 339 appearances to be the most successful Turkish player in the league.

From eight Altıntop-duels in the league Hamit has won five, two went to Halil and one was drawn since their paths diverged from hometown club Schalke.

Whether there are more future meetings remains to be seen, both their contracts run out at the season's end and then there is the issue of what league the clubs are in.

"I am very relaxed about this," Halil said. "I am healthy, fit and have the opportunity to play. I'm enjoying that. We will see what the future brings. I'm open for everything."

Hamit also said he was "very flexible" about what would follow.

One Altıntop who will not be in Darmstadt on Saturday is the twins' mother.

"At the very beginning, when we still played for Wattenscheid, she came to the stadium once. But that was enough for her," Halil said in an interview with Sport Bild magazine. "She never got used to the chance her sons could be injured in a tackle. Since then she was never at a game again."