Hamburger SV Aims for Upset Against Borussia Dortmund

On Saturday afternoon, Hamburger SV will be eager to achieve an upset by defeating Borussia Dortmund, seeking a crucial victory after three consecutive losses.

They face a significantly improved side under Niko Kovač, which appears to have learned from the struggles of last season. A win for Dortmund could elevate them to second place in the Bundesliga, depending on the outcome of RB Leipzig’s match against TSG Hoffenheim.

Hamburger SV is coming off a heavy 4-1 defeat against FC Köln, another newly promoted team. Scoring goals has been a notable challenge for HSV this season, as they are currently tied for the fewest goals scored in the league (8), alongside FC Heidenheim. Additionally, they are up against a Dortmund team that has recorded six clean sheets in nine Bundesliga matches, a record only matched by Bayern Munich. Defensively, HSV has conceded 15 goals in nine games, which, while not the worst in the league, is problematic given their struggle to maintain a scoring average of less than one goal per match.

Fábio Vieira, on loan from Arsenal, will miss the game against BVB due to a red card received in last week’s defeat. This marks the second red card for the 25-year-old attacking midfielder this season, raising concerns regarding his ability to manage his aggression in high-stakes matches.

Coach Merlin Polzin, who opted for a 4-3-3 formation in the previous match, might consider adjusting his strategy in light of the formidable opponent. HSV could revert to a formation similar to the one used against Bayern Munich earlier in the season—perhaps a 5-3-2 or 3-4-3 that utilizes wingbacks. Although they lost that encounter 5-0, maintaining a strong defensive stance may be crucial in attempting to contain BVB.

Dortmund has the potential to secure their third consecutive Bundesliga win with a victory at Volksparkstadion. Following a disappointing 4-1 loss to Manchester City midweek, Kovač’s team will aim to assert their dominance in a match they are expected to control. In their previous encounter against Bayern, Dortmund struggled to make an impact early on, and they will seek to rectify that against HSV.

For head coach Niko Kovač, this match will be a return to familiar territory, having made 55 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburger SV between 1999 and 2001.

From a team news perspective, Dortmund has no new injury concerns following their midweek match. Emre Can has returned from a lengthy injury absence of 173 days, though it may be too soon for him to start; he is likely to be included on the bench this weekend.

Dortmund may implement some changes from their midweek lineup, possibly resting Marcel Sabitzer and even Maximilian Beier, depending on their chosen formation.

Historically, this match-up does not inspire confidence among HSV supporters. Their last victory against Dortmund dates back to November 20, 2015, when they won 3-1 at home. Since then, BVB has prevailed in all five subsequent meetings, boasting an aggregate score of 16-2.