Gladbach vs. Hamburg preview: HSV play first Bundesliga match in seven years

Hamburger SV will play their first Bundesliga match in seven years when they travel to Borussia-Park for Sunday’s meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Gladbach had to settle for a 10th-place finish last term for the third time in four seasons. Their only other finishing position in that period saw them end the 2023-24 campaign in 14th spot. As a result, Gladbach will be desperate to operate in the top half of the table in the 2025-26 Bundesliga season. 

Gerardo Seoane has seen a number of players depart, including Ko Itakura and Alassane Pléa. Meanwhile, die Fohlen have bolstered their ranks with the additions of Jens Castrop, Kevin Diks, Shuto Machino and Haris Tabaković.

Gladbach were forced to work hard in their opening game of the season against Atlas Delmenhorst in the DFB-Pokal. Robin Hack netted a brace alongside a Nico Elvedi effort to edge out the fifth-tier side by a narrow 3-2 scoreline, securing Gladbach’s passage to the second round. 

They will have to improve their performance levels for the league opener against Hamburg. Gladbach may be concerned by the fact that they have failed to win five of their last Bundesliga openers (D3, L2), although they have lost just one of their previous 10 top-flight outings against newly-promoted sides (W3, L6).

Team News

Hamburg are without the services of Immanuel Pherai, Silvan Hefti and Bakery Jatta due to injury. They will also have to assess Robert Glatzel, who has been struggling with an Achilles issue. Meanwhile, Poulsen should be available for selection after recovering from a thigh problem. 

Predicted lineup: Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Chiarodia, Ullrich; Reitz, Sander; Stöger; Honorat, Hack, Tabaković

Hamburger SV

Hamburg are back in the top-flight for the first time since 2018-19 after finally ending their wait for promotion last term. Die Rothosen collected 59 points from 34 league matches to finish in second place behind Köln.

Merlin Polzin’s side have seen several players depart since the end of last season, while they have made a whole host of additions ahead of their Bundesliga return. Hambrug have recruited Fernandes Dickes, Jordan Torunarigha, Nicolás Capaldo, Nicolai Remberg, Rayan Philippe and Yussuf Poulsen on permanent deals. Meanwhile, they have utilised the loan market to sign goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, right-back Giorgi Gocholeishvili and Warmed Omari. 

HSV managed to avoid an upset in their recent dramatic Pokal tie against fifth-tier Pirmasens. The top-flight outfit appeared to be heading out until Guilherme Ramos netted a 92nd-minute equaliser to send the tie to extra time. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer went on to score the winner to send his team through to the second round.

They are now preparing for a tricky test against Gladbach, although they should draw inspiration from their recent record against Sunday’s opponents, having won four, drawn two and lost just one of their previous seven top-flight meetings. 

Team News

Gladbach are unable to call upon Nathan Ngoumou and Tim Kleindienst due to Achilles and knee injuries. Machino is still working his way back to fitness following an injury layoff and will not be ready for the opening day of the season. Meanwhile, Gladbach are yet to decide whether Kevin Diks will be fit to start Sunday’s contest. 

Predicted lineup: Fernandes; Omari, Elfadli, Torunarigha; Gocholeishvili, Capaldo, Remberg, Muheim; Sahiti, Røssing-Lelesiit, Königsdörffer