Struggling Hamburg are set to face an almost inconceivable task of overcoming champions Bayern Munich, looking to continue their incredible start to the season.
Despite the fact that Hamburg have performed remarkably well in the transfer market this summer, bringing in the likes of Filip Kostic, Alen Halilovic and Douglas Santos, the ever present Bundesliga side are struggling to perform on the pitch.
Since collecting a point in a draw against FC Ingolstadt on the opening matchday, HSV have lost three consecutive Bundesliga matches, scoring just once and conceding nine goals in the process. Last week, Bruno Labbadia’s side fell through the hands of newly promoted SC Freiburg in a 1-0 defeat. Der Dino are having their worst start to the season in five years.
Although it is early in the season, Bruno Labbadia’s future could already be in serious doubt as several speculations have started to grow about HSV looking for a new manager, one of which is, TSG Hoffenheim’s 28-year-old Julian Nagelsmann.
To make matters worse, Hamburg themselves are in danger of drifting towards the bottom of the table with matches against Gladbach and Hertha just around the corner.
Bayern on the other hand,are enjoying their best ever start to the season under new coach Carlo Ancelotti. Not for the first time, Bayern made a record in their 3-1 beating of Hertha in midweek. The Bavarian champions now have the best record after four games in Bundesliga’s history with four wins, 14 goals scored and only one against. And it doesn’t come as a surprise that Bayern are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table with 12 points and are the only side yet to drop any points this season.
The 26-time Bavarian champions will be looking to continue their impressive form when they meet lowly Hamburg today.
Match Facts (courtesy of Bundesliga.com)
- HSV have never lost more than three successive matches under Labbadia.
- Eight of the nine goals conceded by Hamburg this season have been scored by substitutes.
- Bayern are on a 7-match winning run against Hamburg at home in the Bundesliga . The last 6 matches alone have seen them scoring 36 goals.
- Hamburg have also lost in 7 of the last 8 home matches against Bayern Munich in all competition. They managed a draw in a Bundesliga fixture between the two which took place in September 2014.
- HSV goalkeeper Rene Adler is yet to keep a clean sheet against Bayern in 14 attempts (41 goals conceded).
Predicted Lineups
FC Bayern: (4-3-3 formation) Manuel Neuer; Phillipe Lahm, Mats Hummels, Javi Martinez, David Alaba; Thiago Alcantara, Xabi Alonso, Arturo Vidal; Thomas Müller, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Ribery
Hamburger SV: (4-2-3-1 formation) Rene Adler; Gotoku Sakai, Johan Djourou, Emir Spahic, Douglas; Sebastian Jung, Albin Ekdal; Nicolai Müller, Aaron Hunt, Gianluca Waldschmidt; Bobby Wood
