Duel at Volksparkstadion: Hamburger SV Faces Borussia Dortmund

On Saturday afternoon, Hamburger SV will seek to achieve an upset against Borussia Dortmund, aiming for a much-needed victory following three consecutive defeats.

Their challenge lies in facing a significantly improved Niko Kovač-led side, which appears to have addressed the issues that plagued them last season. A win for Borussia Dortmund could propel them to second place in the Bundesliga standings, contingent on RB Leipzig’s performance against TSG Hoffenheim.

Hamburger SV is coming off a disappointing 4-1 loss to fellow newcomers FC Köln last weekend. Scoring goals and preventing them has been a persistent challenge for HSV this season. Under the management of Merlin Polzin, they currently share the title of the Bundesliga’s least effective attacking team, having netted only 8 goals, level with FC Heidenheim. Moreover, they are up against a Dortmund squad that boasts six clean sheets out of nine Bundesliga matches, with only Bayern Munich matching that record. Defensively, HSV has conceded 15 goals across 9 games, which, while not the worst in the league, is concerning given their average of less than one goal scored per match.

Arsenal loanee Fábio Vieira will miss the game against BVB due to a red card received in last week’s defeat—his second dismissal this season—raising concerns about his ability to manage aggression in high-stakes matches.

Polzin, who opted for a 4-3-3 formation last weekend, may consider adjusting his tactics against a formidable opponent. HSV could revert to a setup similar to their earlier encounter with Bayern Munich, utilizing a 5-3-2 or 3-4-3 formation with wingbacks. Although HSV suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat in that match, the strategy may provide them with a framework to withstand Dortmund’s pressure longer than they did against Bayern.

Borussia Dortmund aims for their third consecutive Bundesliga victory with a win at the Volksparkstadion. Last week, Dortmund faced a considerable setback, losing 4-1 to Manchester City, where they struggled to assert themselves until too late, reminiscent of their previous match against Bayern. However, they approach Saturday’s game with confidence, expecting to control the play.

Head coach Niko Kovač will return to familiar territory in Hamburg, having made 55 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburger SV between 1999 and 2001.

In terms of team news, there are no new injury updates following their midweek match. Emre Can made his return during the defeat, having been sidelined for 173 days. While it may be too soon for him to start, he is likely to be included on the bench this weekend.

Dortmund may implement a few changes from their midweek lineup, potentially resting Marcel Sabitzer and Maximilian Beier, depending on their chosen formation.

Historically, this fixture has not favored HSV fans. Their last victory against Dortmund dates back to November 20, 2015, when they won 3-1 at home. Since then, Borussia Dortmund has triumphed in all five encounters, outscoring HSV by an aggregate of 16-2.