Hamburger SV will be looking to bring an end to their three-match losing streak when they host giants Borussia Dortmund.
Having won their last two Bundesliga outings, Borussia Dortmund will be eyeing their third straight win when they hit the road to face Hamburger SV at Volksparkstadion on Saturday afternoon.
The home team are 13th on the points table with just eight points from their nine outings thus far. They have already suffered five defeats this season. However, Merlin Polzin will still be pleased with the fact that his charges are three points clear of the drop zone.
Since recording a smashing 4-0 win over FSV Mainz last month, Hamburg have lost all three of their league fixtures, and they are in desperate need to get things back on track. The hosts are heading into this fixture on the back of a 4-1 defeat at the hands of FC Koln, and given their recent form, they might struggle against Borussia Dortmund.
The visitors are third on the points table with 20 points in their nine outings, thanks to six wins, two draws and a defeat. Since losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich, the Black and Yellows have won both their league outings. They also recorded wins over F.C. Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League and Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal.
However, Niko Kovac’s men are heading into this fixture on the back of a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. They will be eager to get things back on track, and with Bayern already seven points clear at the top, Dortmund cannot afford any more slipups. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV remain without the services of Warmed Omari because of a knee injury ahead of the game against Borussia Dortmund. Meanwhile, Immanuel Pherai and Fabio Vieira are both suspended, having picked up red cards in their last outing.
The home side will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Daniel Heuer Fernandes will be in goal. In the heart of the defence, Nicolas Capaldo will start alongside Luka Vuskovic and Daniel Elfadli. The trio will receive significant support from Giorgi Gocholeishvili and Miro Muheim, who will feature as wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Albert Sambi Lokonga will partner with Nicolai Remberg in the centre of the park. The duo will certainly have a lot of defending to do. Rayan Philippe and Jean-Luc Dompe will be the two attacking midfielders behind Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer, who will continue to lead the line for Hamburger SV against Borussia Dortmund this weekend.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Heuer Fernandes; Capaldo, Vuskovic, Elfadli; Gocholeishvili, Sambi Lokonga, Remberg, Muheim; Philippe, Dompe; Konigsdorffer
Borussia Dortmund
The visitors are expected to be without the services of Julian Brandt, who missed the mid-week clash against Manchester City because of a muscle injury. Meanwhile, Niklas Sule is also a major doubt for this fixture because of a toe injury.
Borussia Dortmund will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Gregor Kobel will continue in goal. In the heart of the defence, Waldemar Anton will start alongside Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini. Julian Ryerson and Daniel Svensson should be the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Pascal Gross should partner with Jobe Bellingham in the centre of the park. The duo will look to control the tempo of the game. Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi will be the two attacking midfielders, while Serhou Guirassy will spearhead the Borussia Dortmund attack against Hamburger SV on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Gross, Bellingham, Svensson; Adeyemi, Beier; Guirassy
Key Stats
- In the last 40 meetings between Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV, the visitors have won 21 times.
- The home team have only won 13 games in those meetings.
- Hamburger SV have lost each of their last five games against Borussia Dortmund. They have conceded 16 goals in those fixtures and have only scored two goals.
- Borussia Dortmund last lost to Hamburg back in November 2015 (1-3).
- The team in black and yellow have been unbeaten in eight out of their ten away games this season.
Player to Watch
Serhou Guirassy
The 29-year-old striker has had quite an impressive start to the season. Guirassy has been involved in a total of 14 games across all competitions this term, and he has contributed towards 11 goals.
However, having failed to make an impact against Manchester City, he will be eager to help his team return to winning ways. Guirassy did find the back of the net in their last league outing, and given his overall form, he could have a big say on the end result of this fixture.
Prediction
Hamburger SV 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will look to bounce back from their midweek defeat against Manchester City when they travel to face struggling Hamburger SV on Saturday afternoon. The away team have been in impressive form on the domestic front, having won their last two league outings while scoring freely.
With Serhou Guirassy leading the line, the visitors will be confident of extending their winning run and keeping pace with leaders Bayern Munich. Hamburg, on the other hand, are desperate to stop their recent slide after three consecutive league defeats.
Their defensive frailties have been a major concern, with 11 goals conceded in that run, and things won’t get any easier against Dortmund’s high-tempo attack. Missing key players like Fabio Vieira and Immanuel Pherai only adds to their woes. The Hard Tackle predicts a comfortable 2-0 win for Niko Kovac and his charges.