Hamburger SV vs. Union Berlin preview: Hosts targeting back-to-back victories

Hamburger SV will be looking to claim a second consecutive victory when they welcome Union Berlin to Volksparkstadion on Saturday.

Hamburg 

Hamburg have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent weeks, having put together a four-game unbeaten run since starting 2026 with a narrow defeat to Freiburg. HSV played out draws with Borussia Mönchengladbach, St. Pauli and Bayern Munich, before they claimed their first win of the calendar year in last Saturday’s away meeting with Heidenheim. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer and Rayan Philippe grabbed a goal apiece in the 2-0 success, moving HSV up to 11th spot and three points clear of danger. 

After enjoying success on their travels, die Rothosen will return to the familiar surroundings of the Volksparkstadion for their first-ever Bundesliga home game against Union. Hamburg have avoided defeat in each of their last six home league matches, although three consecutive home draws mean it has been over two months since their last victory at the Volksparkstadion. 

The hosts can take confidence from the fact that they have conceded just 11 home league goals this term – only three teams have let in fewer in the Bundesliga. 

Team News

HSV will have to make do without Albert Grønbæk, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit and Warmed Omari. 

Predicted lineup: Fernandes; Capaldo, Vušković, Elfadli; Jatta, Remberg, Vieira, Muheim; Königsdörffer, Otele, Downs

Union Berlin

Union are in ninth place and three points better off than Saturday’s opponents. However, they are still searching for their first win of 2026, having drawn four and lost two of their last six matches. They at least managed to salvage a point from their most recent outing against Eintracht Frankfurt, which saw Leopold Querfeld net an 87th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. 

Steffen Baumgart’s side will now head on their travels with hopes of claiming their first victory since recording back-to-back victories against RB Leipzig and FC Köln in December. Die Eisernen should at least fancy their chances of picking up a positive result on Saturday, having avoided defeat in all of their previous three competitive matches against HSV (W1, D2). 

The visitors will be desperate to strike first against HSV, having won all three away league games in which they have netted the opening goal this term. 

Team News

Baumgart is without the services of Robert Skov, Diogo Leite, Tom Rothe and Josip Juranović. In positive news, Oliver Burke is set to return to the squad after sitting out the draw with Frankfurt due to injury. 

Predicted lineup: Rønnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Nsoki; Trimmel, Khedira, Kemlein, Köhn; Jeong, Ansah; Ilić