New-look HSV: Stability over spectacular football

After seven years in the second tier, Hamburg are back in the Bundesliga. The venerable club from the Elbe is aiming to re-establish itself in the top flight - and is focusing less on spectacular football and more on defensive stability. Ahead of the clash with FC Bayern at the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening (18:30 CEST), it's worth taking a closer look at how the north German side have started the season, their numerous new signings, their preferred line-up and their tactical approach.

Bumpy start to league and cup campaigns

HSV have picked up just one point from their first two Bundesliga matches. Thanks to their well-organised defence, the newly promoted side earned a 0-0 draw in their opening game in Mönchengladbach, while in their first home game, the derby against FC St. Pauli, coach Merlin Polzin's largely toothless team lost 2-0 and have actually yet to score a goal. "We have to learn to be more lethal," said captain Yussuf Poulsen after the match against their big rivals. "We play good football at times, do well to get into the final third, but then can't come up with the decisive pass or cross."

The pre-season preparations for the first Bundesliga campaign in seven years were already somewhat bumpy. Hamburg only showed their superiority against lower-league opponents such as VfB Oldenburg (2-1) and SC Weiche Flensburg 08 (2-1), but lost most of their friendlies against the likes of Copenhagen (1-0), Sturm Graz (2-1), Lyon (4-0) and RCD Mallorca (2-0). In the first round of the DFB Cup, the team led by captain Poulsen laboured to a 2-1 win after extra time at Oberliga club FK Pirmasens.

Major shake-up in the squad

In the summer, HSV brought in reinforcements across virtually all areas of the team, starting in goal with Daniel Peretz, who moved from FC Bayern to the Elbe on loan. In central defence, the former Bundesliga ‘dinosaur’ brought in plenty of top-flight experience in Jordan Torunarigha (75 games), while they also loaned Luka Vuskovic (18), a promising talent from Tottenham Hotspur, and Warmed Omari (25, Stade Rennes), a seasoned pro from Ligue 1. Giorgi Gocholeishvili (24, Shakhtar Donetsk) has wasted no time in establishing himself on the right side of defence.

The newly promoted side signed no fewer than four players for central midfield: Albert Sambi Lokonga (25) and Fábio Vieira (25, on loan) joined from Arsenal, while Nicolai Remberg (25) from Holstein Kiel and Nicolás Capaldo (26) from RB Salzburg were also brought in. Poulsen (31, RB Leipzig) and Rayan Philippe (24, Eintracht Braunschweig) should provide new impetus in the centre of attack. However, the new signings have also been offset by some high-profile departures: in Ludovit Reis (to Club Brugge), Davie Selke (to Başakşehir) and Sebastian Schonlau (to Vancouver Whitecaps), HSV lost three key players in the summer.

Polzin favours a back three

Merlin Polzin prefers to play a 3-4-3 formation. Against FCB, Omari, Vuskovic and Torunarigha will most likely form the back line in front of keeper Heuer Fernandes. In the centre of midfield, Polzin could rely on the two new signings Remberg and Sambi Lokonga, flanked by Miro Muheim (left) and Capaldo (right), who could come in for Gocholeishvili, who’s suspended after being shown a second yellow in the last game. Vieira, Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer and Jean-Luc Dompé will probably lead the line, but Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit and Poulsen are also options for the game in Munich.

Defensive stability the top priority

Following promotion, HSV have clearly adapted their style of play: The top priority is defensive solidity. Similar to city rivals St. Pauli a year ago, Hamburg are also focusing on keeping things tight, allowing their opponents more possession and an approach that aims to keep a clean sheet. Coach Polzin is aware that after years of watching spectacular attacking football in the second tier, the fans are noticing the changes - and not all of them are likely to be instantly thrilled by the new approach.

The squad was significantly changed in order to implement the new playing concept. The Bundesliga opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach saw eight new faces in the starting XI, including five summer signings. Polzin has already hinted that HSV will allow the opposition to take control of the game more often in future and rely on transitions themselves. This would allow Hamburg to vary flexibly between a back four and a back five to ensure even greater defensive stability.

But the coach also knows that in many Bundesliga matches, the opposition will have more possession than his side. It'll be important to be prepared for this - also through greater tactical variability. The first signs of tightening up the centre of midfield with new signings such as Capaldo and Remberg were already visible against St. Pauli. However, while this gives them more stability, Hamburg have so far lacked the creativity to consistently drive their attacking game forward into the final third.

FC Bayern started preparations for the game against Hamburg on Monday: