A classic fixture in German football returns to the Bundesliga on Saturday as Bayern face Hamburg for the first time in seven years (kick-off at 6.30pm CEST, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 3 encounter at the Allianz Arena in our preview.
Latest news from Bayern
Bayern’s players are back from international duty and now ready to build on the solid foundation they’ve been laying at the start of this season. Vincent Kompany’s men have won all four of their opening competitive fixtures, while nine goals scored from the first two Bundesliga games equals the club’s best start in Germany’s top flight.
This meeting with HSV is a special one for Kompany:
“We want to win this match, just like we do every match,” said Kompany at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “We’re always the favourites at home,” the 39-year-old added, while also calling for his team to play their usual way against the promoted side. “We always have to give our all. That’s my expectation.”
Read up on the stats ahead of hosting HSV:
Opponent: Hamburg
Hamburg’s promotion in May ended seven long years of exile in Bundesliga 2. Now the fallen giants are back in the big time and looking to re-establish themselves as one of German football’s major forces. It means that HSV come to Munich as “second favourites”, according to coach Merlin Polzin, but he also believes his team have earned the right to take to the stage in Saturday evening’s big match.
All the joy of promotion took a hit prior to the international break when Hamburg lost 2-0 at home to city rivals St. Pauli. They were then busy in the transfer market, signing midfielders Albert Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira from Arsenal. Polzin believes his team is now well set for a long-awaited encounter with the record champions. “We’re not going there to see by how many we lose. We’re way too up for the game for that and have a clear idea of how we want to be a threat,” said the Bundesliga’s current youngest coach. However, that goal threat has been Hamburg’s issue so far, being the only team alongside Borussia Mönchengladbach yet to score in the Bundesliga this term.
Take a more in-depth look at new-look Hamburg:
Team news
Bayern’s players came through the international break well, with Kompany confirming that “everyone has come back fit”. As such, the only players unavailable are the long-term absentees in Alphonso Davies (cruciate ligament), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal) and Jamal Musiala (ankle and leg).
HSV come to Munich without suspended summer signing Giorgi Gocholeishvili, while Polzin said that captain Yussuf Poulsen’s involvement is still up in the air.
What the coaches say
„We’re playing against a team that’s gained a lot of confidence through promotion. They don’t go into every game feeling they need to just defend but knowing that they’ve won a lot of games.”
Vincent Kompany
„We need to play in a way whereby everyone works hard for our shirt and is ready to overcome resistance. But obviously the quality of the opposition will determine the rhythm of the game most of the time.”
Merlin Polzin (Hamburg)
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